At parties with diverse attendees, a newcomer may greet a cluster of people with as many greetings as there are members of the cluster: an air kiss for one, a hug for another, a handshake for a third and a mere smile for a fourth, a stranger.
SPD was short for "Sends many greetings" (salutem plurimam dicit).
Similarly, sign offs can get gradually more informal, from "Mit freundlichen Grüßen"to "Viele Grüsse"("many greetings") to, if people have become friendly, "Liebe Grüsse"("dear greetings").
Many greetings from Phillip, Germany Mr Santa Claus, I want to become a good mother, I want my son to become the smartest guy in his school, and I want him to get accepted at Tamara High School.
I texted him last year on the anniversary, because I get so many greetings from people associated with that moment, either as fans or just some people internally on that date.
When she was 64, her son said in The Times: "I remember when I was growing up, there were always so many people greeting my mother on the street that I was embarrassed.
Still, many Christians greeting the pope glared at the small group of Muslims who had camped on the plaza where they plan to erect the mosque, next to the tomb of a nephew of Saladin, the warrior hero who expelled the Crusaders in 1187.
To get there, they walk through the space where they spent so many days and nights, greeting many of their former employees.
After so many years of feeling bullied and vilified by the Bush White House, many Arabs are greeting President Obama's visit as a historic moment, and an opportunity.
