I stick with the definition from Merriam Webster dictionary.
I’ll also go with the common connotation.
You can go with the etymology of the word, but I assume that you do that with all words and would be insufferable to be around since you would say the President just means that Obama is the “person who sits before” and has no other meaning than that. LOL.
I ignored those because your previous points were so ridiculous.
Since you are the one who thinks it just means “one who says farewell”, you don’t understand. Or do you think everyone who says farewell is a valedictorian - like the Principal, the guest speaker, the favorite teacher or even the salutatorian, LOL.
I will now be a valedictorian by saying farewell to you since your arguments are so ridiculously silly, I just can’t believe you are serious.
(whew, now I can put on my resume that I am a valedictorian)