an utterance, oration, or the like, given in bidding farewell or taking leave; valedictory.
Origin: 1605–15; < L valedictiōn- (s. of valedictiō), equiv. to valedict(us), ptp. of valedīcere (vale farewell + dictus, ptp. of dīcere to say) + -iōn--ion
A word or phrase of farewell used to end a letter or message.
[From Latin valedictus, past participle of valedīcere, to say farewell : valē, farewell; see vale2 + dīcere, to say; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]