What is there to say about valedictory? The noun sense (meaning "an address or statement of farewell") first appeared in 1779, but the adjectival sense dates back to 1651. The etymology traces back to the Latin terms vale, meaning "farewell," plus dicere, meaning "to say." A valedictory is an "oration or statement spoken at a time or ceremony of farewell or leave-taking." Although valedictory is applied especially to such a speech made upon leaving an office or an educational institution, there is a long and occasionally glorious history of political valedictories as well.