transitive verb

1. to speak or write to with expressions of friendliness, respect, pleasure, etc., as in meeting or by letter; hail; welcome
2. to meet, receive, address, or acknowledge (a person, utterance, or event) in a specified way the speech was greeted with cheers; the army was greeted by cannon shots
3. to come or appear to; meet a roaring sound greeted his ears

Etymology: ME greten < OE gretan, grætan, akin to Du groetan, Ger grüssen < IE *ghredh- < base *gher-, echoic of outcry > L hirrire, to whimper, growl