regards
Meaning
Good wishes or expressions of esteem and affection
Used to send good wishes to someone at the end of a letter or message, or when asking someone to give your good wishes to another person
Structure
Usage
Please give my regards to your family.
He sent his warmest regards with the gift.
The letter concluded with the standard formal regards.
Etymology
The word 'regards' originates from the Old French verb regarder, meaning "to look back at, to heed." This verb itself is a compound of the prefix re- (expressing intensive or repeated action) and garder (to guard, watch). The core notion is of looking attentively or holding someone in one's sight with consideration. Over time, the plural noun form evolved from this literal sense of "looking at" to the figurative meaning of "attentive care or concern," and finally to its modern conventional use as an expression of good wishes or esteem, as if one is looking upon the recipient with favor.
Analysis
- re: A Latin prefix meaning "again, back, with force." - gard: From Old French garder, meaning "to look at, heed, guard," itself of Germanic origin. - s: A common English suffix indicating the plural form of a noun.