valedictorian (n.)

"student who pronounces the oration at commencement exercises of his or her class," 1832, American English, from valedictory + -ian. As an adjective from 1834.

Entries linking to valedictorian

valedictory (adj.)

1650s, "pertaining or relating to leave-taking," from Latin valedictum (past participle of valedicere; see valediction) + -ory. As a noun meaning "valedictory address" from 1779.

-ian

variant of suffix -an (q.v.), with connective -i-. From Latin -ianus, in which the -i- originally was from the stem of the word being attached but later came to be felt as connective. In Middle English frequently it was -ien, via French.

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updated on March 07, 2014

Definitions of valedictorian from WordNet

valedictorian (n.)

the student with the best grades who usually delivers the valedictory address at commencement;

Synonyms: valedictory speaker

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near valedictorian

vainglory

vair

valance

vale

valediction

valedictorian

valedictory

valence

Valencia

Valentine

Valentino