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adieu

[uh-doo, uh-dyoo; French a-dyœ]
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interjection
  1. goodbye; farewell.
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noun, plural a·dieus, a·dieux [uh-dooz, uh-dyooz; French a-dyœ] /əˈduz, əˈdyuz; French aˈdyœ/.
  1. the act of leaving or departing; farewell.
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Origin of adieu

1325–75; Middle English < Middle French, equivalent to a (< Latin ad to) + dieu (< Latin deus god)
Can be confusedà deux adieu ado (see synonym study at ado)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for adieux

Historical Examples

  • They made their adieux, and the schoolmaster, opening his door, peered out.

    The Trampling of the Lilies

    Rafael Sabatini

  • If I do not see the ladies, for I believe they are out walking, will you make my excuses and my adieux?

    Lord Kilgobbin

    Charles Lever

  • I 'm off to Oughter-ard, having made my adieux at Cro' Martin.

  • And at Gustav's nod Roger made his adieux and went home to bed.

    The Forbidden Trail

    Honor Willsie

  • There were no adieux to make, for Annette declined to see him.

    Despair's Last Journey

    David Christie Murray

British Dictionary definitions for adieux

adieu

sentence substitute, noun plural adieus or adieux (əˈdjuːz, French adjø)
  1. goodbye; farewell
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Word Origin

C14: from Old French, from a to + dieu God
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for adieux

adieu

late 14c., adewe, from French adieu, from phrase a dieu (vous) commant "I commend (you) to God," from a "to" (see ad) + dieu "God," from Latin deum, accusative of deus "god," from PIE *deiwos (see Zeus). Originally said to the party left; farewell was to the party setting forth.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper