To welcome or acknowledge someone upon meeting with words or gestures.
From Old English 'gretan' meaning to come in contact with, attack, or salute. Related to Old Norse 'grata' (to weep). The meaning shifted from aggressive contact to friendly acknowledgment over centuries.
The word 'greet' originally had aggressive connotations - it could mean to attack or assault someone. The evolution from 'confronting' someone to 'welcoming' them reflects how human societies became more peaceful over time.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.