adieu French · revision 16726

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=late 12th century, Mort de Garin (adeu)|origins=la deus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.djø/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''adieu''' (interjection); '''adieu''' ''m'' (noun; plural ''adieux'')^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''adeu''.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|fr|à|dieu]]: a shortening of the leave-taking formula “I commend you to God”, Old French [[m|fro|a Dieu vos comant]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873) The noun [[dieu]] continues [[la|deus|t=god]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Compare [[pcd|adé]], [[oc|adieu]], [[ca|adeu]], [[es|adiós]], [[pt|adeus]] and [[it|addio]].^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Mort de Garin'' (late 12th century) the king takes leave with ''Adeu, sire cosin'' “goodbye, cousin”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the start it was said on parting and, regionally, also on meeting.^(DHLF 1992) The phrase ''dire adieu'' already treats it as a noun; the noun itself is found in 1458 (''le gracieux adieu'') and was fully established in the 16th century, with ''les adieux'', ''faire ses adieux'' and ''visite d'adieu''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007) It also came to mark a loss or a giving up, as in La Fontaine's ''Adieu veau, vache, cochon, couvée''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ The modern contrast between ''adieu'' (for a long or final parting) and ''au revoir'' took shape at the start of the 19th century; before that one could say ''adieu, jusqu'au revoir''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) In the south of France, from the Charentes to the Jura and below, it still serves for “hello” as well as “goodbye”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) English took the word in the late 14th century (''adewe''), first as a parting salutation said to the one staying behind.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – ''Adeu'', ''Mort de Garin''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1458 – The noun: ''le gracieux adieu''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1588 – The noun for a leave-taking.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * Late 14th century – English borrows it as ''adewe''.^(Etymonline)

+ * Early 19th century – ''Adieu'' and ''au revoir'' take distinct uses.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|farewell]], goodbye, said to someone one will not see for a long time or ever again.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(southern France, Switzerland)'' Hello; goodbye.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Said to mark that something is lost or given up: ''adieu veau, vache, cochon, couvée''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Dire adieu à'': to take leave of; to [[m|en|renounce]], give up for lost.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A leave-taking, parting: ''le moment des adieux'', ''faire ses adieux'', ''une visite d'adieu''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dieu]]

+ * [[en|adieu]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}