Adieu is a French word that is commonly used in English to bid farewell to someone. It is a polite way of saying goodbye, which is often used in formal settings or when saying goodbye to someone who is leaving for a long time.
Definitions
Adieu is defined as a French word that means goodbye or farewell. It is often used as a polite way of saying goodbye to someone, especially in formal settings. The word adieu is also used to express a final farewell to someone, indicating that the speaker does not expect to see the person again.
Origin
The word adieu comes from the French phrase “à Dieu” which means “to God”. It was originally used as a way of saying farewell to someone with the hope that they would be protected by God on their journey. Over time, the phrase became shortened to “adieu” and was adopted into the English language.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In the Oxford English Dictionary, adieu is defined as “a French word used to express farewell, especially a final farewell”. Merriam-Webster defines it as “goodbye” or “a farewell expression”. The Cambridge Dictionary defines adieu as “a French word meaning goodbye, used especially when someone is leaving permanently or for a long time”.
Associations
Adieu is often associated with formal settings, such as business meetings, weddings, or other events where it is important to show respect and politeness. It is also associated with the idea of a final farewell, indicating that the speaker does not expect to see the person again.
Synonyms
There are many synonyms for adieu, including goodbye, farewell, adios, ciao, sayonara, and auf Wiedersehen. These words are often used interchangeably with adieu, depending on the context and the speaker’s preference.
Antonyms
The antonyms of adieu are words that mean the opposite of goodbye or farewell. These include greetings such as hello, hi, and hey, as well as phrases like “see you later” or “until next time”.
The same root words
The word adieu comes from the French phrase “à Dieu”, which means “to God”. Other words that share this root include adios, which comes from the Spanish phrase “a Dios” meaning “to God”, and adieu’s Italian counterpart addio, which comes from the phrase “a Dio” meaning “to God”.
Example Sentences
- “As she boarded the plane, she turned to her family and said adieu, knowing she wouldn’t see them for a long time.”
- “The business meeting ended with formal handshakes and polite adieus.”
- “He said adieu to his hometown and set out on a journey to explore the world.”