[L., 2nd pers. sing. imper. of valēre to be well.]
A. int. Farewell; goodbye; adieu.
1550. Coverdale, trans. Wermullerus’ Treat. Death, Pref. iiij b. Vale, Loue God, leue vanitye, and lyue in Chryst.
1556. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, To Rdr. (Arb.), 20. So doynge thou shalt minister vnto me good cause to thinke my labour and paynes herein not altogethers bestowed in vaine. Vale.
1612. Shelton, Quix., To Rdr. A iij. And herewithall I bid thee farewell, and doe not forget me. Vale.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Vale, farewel, God be with you, God keep you in health.
1912. L. Inkster (title), Vale, a Book of Verse, Ibid., 63, title, Vale.
| ‘Goodbye, Goodbye!’ | |
| Between the sea and sky | |
| Still floats the echo of their wild lament, | |
| Sisters and Sweethearts, and we sail content. | |
| Goodbye, Goodbye. |
B. sb. A farewell greeting, letter, etc.; a goodbye, farewell, or leave-taking.
1580–3. Greene, Mamillia, Wks. (Grosart), II. 86. Giuing her her vale with a counterfeit kind of curtesie. Ibid. (1584), Arbasto, Ibid., III. 211. The thankes I had for this … was a … churlish vale of the old trot Vechia.
1619. Sir S. D’Ewes, in Coll. Life Jas. I. (1851), 81. I took my vale of him, with many thanks, and posted homewards.
1626. Breton, Fantasticks, Wks. (Grosart), II. 6/2. The Nymphes of the Woodes in consort with the Muses sing an Aue to the Morning, and a Vale to the Sunnes setting.
1675. J. Smith, Christ. Relig. Appeal, I. xi. § 4. 103. They must bid an eternal Vale to their admired Law and Temple.
1814. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), III. iii. 129. I am going to say my vales to you for some weeks.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1865), II. 128. So instead of laughing gayly, I dropped a tear, and wrote my ‘Vale.’
fig. 1631. Lenton, Charact., C 1. He takes his vale for a certaine season to some sinister Sanctuary.
