Where does “adieu” come from?

Adieu comes from Middle English adieu, meaning a farewell expression.

adieu (English): Said to wish a final farewell; goodbye; A...

Definitions

  1. Said to wish a final farewell; goodbye; A...

Ancestry of “adieu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishadieu—
2Old Frenchadieuto God
3Medieval Latinad Deumto God; goodbye
Every word from Medieval Latin ad Deum →Every word from Old French adieu →Every word from Middle English adieu →