parting

To separate. To leave someone or something behind, often at a dramatic moment. It looks like we have come to a parting of the ways, old friend. I hope your endeavor in the city works out, and I will keep you in my prayers on the farm.

A final, usually critical remark made specifically to have an impact on the listener(s). He couldn't resist getting a parting shot in at the hiring manager as he stormed out of her office.

a point at which people separate and go their own ways. (Often with come to a, arrive at a, reach a, etc.) Jane and Bob finally came to a parting of the ways. Bill and his parents reached a parting of the ways.

a separation of two things or people because of a disagreement We came to a parting of the ways because of our different ideas about what should be done to move the company forward.

a remark that you say as you are leaving somewhere so that it has a strong effect Her parting shot was 'I'm going to spend the evening with people who appreciate my company!'

the point at which two people or organizations separate The parting of the ways came after a series of disagreements between the manager and the group's singer.

A point of divergence, especially an important one, as in When Jim decided to travel with the band and Jill wanted a more normal home life, they came to a parting of the ways . This term, which transfers a fork in a road to alternative courses of action, appears in the Bible (Ezekiel 21:21), where the king of Babylon must decide whether or not to attack Jerusalem: "[He] stood at the parting of the way." [c. 1600]

A final insult or last word in an argument, as in As she stalked out, Jane hurled as a parting shot, " And I quit!" This idiom apparently originated as a corruption of Parthian shot, referring to the practice of ancient Parthian warriors of turning back to shoot at their pursuers. [Late 1800s]

A point of divergence, especially one of great moment.

The last word. At the end of a heated discussion or argument, you unleash a zinger of a remark as you leave. You've just made a parting shot. The phrase is very often said as “Parthian shot.” The Parthians were a Persian tribe that developed the cavalry tactic of retreating in order to draw their enemy after them, whereupon they would turn in the saddle and fire a barrage of arrows. Although some scholars say “parting” came from “Parthian,” others say it's coincidental.