In Scotland, to Greet Means to Weep
To greet is to welcome someone. A separate Scottish verb of the same spelling means to cry, and it is entirely unrelated.
To greet is to address someone on meeting them. In Scots and northern English there is a second, unrelated verb *greet* meaning to weep, from a different Old English word — which is why a Scottish speaker can describe a *greeting-faced* person and mean tearful rather than welcoming. The two verbs collided in spelling but never in meaning. The standard verb also covers what meets the senses: a smell can greet you at the door.
- To welcome. *Greet the guests.*
- To weep (Scots). *She was greeting.*
- To meet the senses. *A smell greeted us.*
- Greeting — a welcome. *A warm greeting.*
- Greetings card — the British term. *A greetings card.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | greet | Greet them. |
| Past | greeted | He greeted us. |
| Noun | greeting | A greeting. |
| Scots verb | greet | Stop greeting. |
| Old English | gretan | To approach, address. |
- She greeted him at the door.Welcome.
- The bairn was greeting.Scots: crying.
- A wall of heat greeted us.Sensory.
Greetings around the day
- Good morning — until noon
- Good afternoon — noon to about six
- Good evening — a greeting on arrival
- Good night — always a farewell, never a greeting
- Hello — recorded only from the 1800s, popularised by the telephone
Old English *gretan*, to approach or address. The weeping verb is from a separate Old English word *greotan*, to cry.
Does greet mean cry in Scotland?
Yes. It is a separate verb from a different Old English root, and it is still current in Scots.
Is good night a greeting?
No. Unlike good morning or good evening, it is only ever used on parting.