What is a synonym for 'hail'?

[fisherman_carl]

I find it hard to wrap my brain around the word. Because the word had so many connotations. Its defined as an enthusiastic greeting. But unfortunately its not a word we actually use anymore. So I have no context for it. So I was looking for synonyms for words we actually use today.

For some protestants seem to think it means to worship as if we are to bow down in homage. Since it is a word we no longer use it can mean almost anything people want it to. But I am looking for the original context and synonyms. Enthusiastic greeting doesn’t mean anything to me. If it’s an enthusiastic greeting can i go around to everyone i meet saying hail. Or is that reserved only for royalty?

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I think “yo” is a modern equivalent and is used in different ways. I mean, “Yo, Mary…” sounds similar to “Hail, Mary…”.

If Protestants think that it equates to worship I would think they would have a real problem with Luke 1:28, you know?

 

[fisherman_carl]

I think “yo” is a modern equivalent and is used in different ways. I mean, “Yo, Mary…” sounds similar to “Hail, Mary…”.

If Protestants think that it equates to worship I would think they would have a real problem with Luke 1:28, you know?

I’m not sure what yo means either.

 

[fisherman_carl]

I think “yo” is a modern equivalent and is used in different ways. I mean, “Yo, Mary…” sounds similar to “Hail, Mary…”.

If Protestants think that it equates to worship I would think they would have a real problem with Luke 1:28, you know?

Yo Mary has a certain ring to it.

 

[fisherman_carl]

I found this online

Main Entry: hail
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: honor, salute
Synonyms: acclaim, acknowledge, applaud, cheer, commend, compliment, exalt, glorify, greet, hear it for, kudize, praise, recognize, recommend, root for, welcome

If I went to my friends and said Hail Bob or whoever they would think I was making a joke that Bob was royalty or something.

If I said yo Bob it wouldn’t have the same connotation.

 

[porthos11]

I find it hard to wrap my brain around the word. Because the word had so many connotations. Its defined as an enthusiastic greeting. But unfortunately its not a word we actually use anymore. So I have no context for it. So I was looking for synonyms for words we actually use today.

For some protestants seem to think it means to worship as if we are to bow down in homage. Since it is a word we no longer use it can mean almost anything people want it to. But I am looking for the original context and synonyms. Enthusiastic greeting doesn’t mean anything to me. If it’s an enthusiastic greeting can i go around to everyone i meet saying hail. Or is that reserved only for royalty?

You pretty much got it. “Hail” as an exclamation is used to exalt someone of high status or position (as in “Hail, Caesar!”) and it doesn’t appear to have a synonym in that context. The man on the street does not deserve the acclamation of “Hail!” or “Ave!”

But if etymology is what’s needed, then Hail (and Ave) both have their origins in wishing for good health (hail and health have similar origins). Therefore, if you’re looking for something contemporary according to this etymology, you could probably say “Long live and prosper” or something along those lines. But barring something so silly, the closest we have in daily English speech is just a simple “How are you?” the unspoken wish of course, being the well-being of the person being greeted.

BTW, this is the reason the angel greeted Mary with Chaire! Ave! Hail! It was an affirmation of her exalted status, not a greeting extended to the mere common man.

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi!

“I greet You heartily!”

“How’s Your halo shining?”

“Queen of me, how do Thee be?”

God bless.

 

[Purgatory_Pete]

For some protestants seem to think it means to worship as if we are to bow down in homage. Since it is a word we no longer use it can mean almost anything people want it to.

I and many many others use it at least 50 times a day in our Rosary.
(Praise to you) Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

I love it that you want to feel and fully understand every word you pray,
if only everyone did this…

Understanding a word is great, changing it may not be.
Changing your understanding of the word would be best.
Yo dude is ok for a person in the street, Yo Mary, not so much…
Yo has no real respect in it. (IMO)
:tiphat:

 

[Crusaderbear]

I think “yo” is a modern equivalent and is used in different ways. I mean, “Yo, Mary…” sounds similar to “Hail, Mary…”.

If Protestants think that it equates to worship I would think they would have a real problem with Luke 1:28, you know?

Ahhhh, my kinda catholic! :+1:t2:

For OP, try ’ hello’ .or, m’lady…

 

[fisherman_carl]

You pretty much got it. “Hail” as an exclamation is used to exalt someone of high status or position (as in “Hail, Caesar!”) and it doesn’t appear to have a synonym in that context. The man on the street does not deserve the acclamation of “Hail!” or “Ave!”

But if etymology is what’s needed, then Hail (and Ave) both have their origins in wishing for good health (hail and health have similar origins). Therefore, if you’re looking for something contemporary according to this etymology, you could probably say “Long live and prosper” or something along those lines. But barring something so silly, the closest we have in daily English speech is just a simple “How are you?” the unspoken wish of course, being the well-being of the person being greeted.

BTW, this is the reason the angel greeted Mary with Chaire! Ave! Hail! It was an affirmation of her exalted status, not a greeting extended to the mere common man.

Which brings up the question was the angel subordinating himself to Mary, elevating her above angels?

 

[revert_jen]

I found this online

Main Entry: hail
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: honor, salute
Synonyms: acclaim, acknowledge, applaud, cheer, commend, compliment, exalt, glorify, greet, hear it for, kudize, praise, recognize, recommend, root for, welcome

If I went to my friends and said Hail Bob or whoever they would think I was making a joke that Bob was royalty or something.

If I said yo Bob it wouldn’t have the same connotation.

Well, there is a difference between a verb and a greeting. We aren’t telling people, “You go hail Mary, now.” If there weren’t, would people think that by hailing a cab you were worshipping it?

I believe the greeting is the interjection, a definition of which (on dictionary.com) is: (used as a salutation, greeting, or acclamation.)

Then, there’s phrases like “Hail to the conquering hero,” “Hail fellow well met,” and so forth, none of which imply worship.

It is a respectful and/or positive and/or friendly greeting. It is archaic. Some people who spend a lot of time with the KJV and not a lot of time with other things written about the same time (for example Shakespeare) may associate archaic language with religion more than is actually appropriate. IIRC, the witches in Macbeth say “Hail” to Macbeth, and no worship was implied, just the respect due to a nobleman and a future king. I believe there is a lot of other "hail"ing in Shakespeare as well.

I suppose there isn’t a modern equivalent because we spend less time showing respectful admiration.

–Jen

 

[JerryZ]

I find it hard to wrap my brain around the word. Because the word had so many connotations. Its defined as an enthusiastic greeting. But unfortunately its not a word we actually use anymore. So I have no context for it. So I was looking for synonyms for words we actually use today.

For some protestants seem to think it means to worship as if we are to bow down in homage. Since it is a word we no longer use it can mean almost anything people want it to. But I am looking for the original context and synonyms. Enthusiastic greeting doesn’t mean anything to me. If it’s an enthusiastic greeting can i go around to everyone i meet saying hail. Or is that reserved only for royalty?

Well this depends on the language used at the time.

In the Koyne Greek the Angel exclaims: χαιρε written in English it would be "chaire"which is translated to “Hail”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary states:

hail
interjection
Definition of HAIL
1 archaic —used as a salutation
2 used to express acclamation <hail to the chief — Sir Walter Scott>

Origin of HAIL
Middle English, from Old Norse heill, from heill healthy — more at whole
First Known Use: 13th century

hail
verb
Definition of HAIL
transitive verb
1 a : salute, greet
b : to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim

2 : to greet or summon by calling

Now in Latin the word that is used in the Vulgata is “Ave”
Which is where we get “Ave Maria”

Ave was a salutation, for example Ave Caesar was the salutation to the Roman Emperors following the original Caesar Augustus who took the name from his famous adoptive father Julius Caesar.

Again from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary we find:

ave
noun \ˈä-(ˌ)vā
Definition of AVE
1 : an expression of greeting or of leave-taking : hail, farewell
2 often capitalized : ave maria

Origin of AVE
Middle English, from Latin, hail
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to AVE

Synonyms
adieu, au revoir, good–bye, bon voyage, congé (also congee), farewell, Godspeed

Antonyms
hello

Notice the Dictionary INCORRECTLY states that the origins of “AVE” are from the 13th Century, this is absurd as it is recorded as matter of record that it was the salutation used in Roman times even before the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And here we quote Wikipedia for expediency but the data is reliable.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
**
“Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant”** (“Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you”) is a well-known Latin phrase quoted in Suetonius, De Vita Caesarum (“The Life of the Caesars”, or “The Twelve Caesars”).[1] It was used during an event in AD 52 on Lake Fucinus by naumachiarii—captives and criminals fated to die fighting during mock naval encounters—in the presence of the emperor Claudius. Suetonius reports that Claudius replied “Aut non” (“or not”).

Hope this info quenches your thirst for knowledge or perhaps inspires you to learn some more of our past.

…

 

[Todd977]

You pretty much got it. “Hail” as an exclamation is used to exalt someone of high status or position (as in “Hail, Caesar!”) and it doesn’t appear to have a synonym in that context. The man on the street does not deserve the acclamation of “Hail!” or “Ave!” … BTW, this is the reason the angel greeted Mary with Chaire! Ave! Hail! It was an affirmation of her exalted status, not a greeting extended to the mere common man.

The risen Jesus said the same greeting, “Hail,” to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary whom he met coming from his tomb. There is no reason to believe that these women were of high status or position.

 

[gus]

nevi

Which brings up the question was the angel subordinating himself to Mary, elevating her above angels?

The Angel by definition is a messenger.
The message he delivers is in the form of a title or name given to Mary directly by God.
Very overwhelming

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Luke 1:28 uses “χαίρω”

to rejoice, be glad

to rejoice exceedingly

to be well, thrive

in salutations, hail!

at the beginning of letters: to give one greeting, salute

 

[Convert1]

I believe scripture speaks to all of us in a very personal private way. I have always felt the phrase, “Hail Mary” says “Honor Mary”. to me. That’s what I hear when I say it.
Hail equals Honor. Just IMHO.

 

[fisherman_carl]

There seems to be other uses in the bible. For instance it is used to mock Jesus as a king of the Jews.

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, G5463 King of the Jews!”
(Mt 27:29)

“And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. G5463 And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.”
(Mt 28:9)

“And began to salute him, Hail, G5463 King of the Jews!”
(Mk 15:8)

 

[fisherman_carl]

The risen Jesus said the same greeting, “Hail,” to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary whom he met coming from his tomb. There is no reason to believe that these women were of high status or position.

Where is this Scripture? I can’t find it. I am looking here.
blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5463&t=KJV

Looking at that site you see the same Greek word in different contexts. It is translated sometimes as rejoice or glad. But in the case of salutation like hail Mary or Hail Jesus it is translated as hail. Which seems to imply the same word is used for different meanings in different contexts. But when used as a salutation it seems to be an acclamation of honor.

 

[Beryllos]

Hail Mary, but Peter, you rock!

 

[porthos11]

Which brings up the question was the angel subordinating himself to Mary, elevating her above angels?

No, we don’t necessarily have to give that reading. It clearly exalts Mary’s position, but there’s no textual evidence regarding its “level” relative to the angels.

Any belief of Mary’s position relative to the angels is not inferred from this text.