::Adieu & Adios::

"The universal principle of etymology in all languages: words are carried over from bodies and from the properties of bodies to express the things of the mind and spirit. The order of ideas must follow the order of things."
::Giambattista Vico::

This post is different than any other I've written so far; it is about etymology, or the study of the origin of words. It is an interest of mine so these posts might become more frequent. This first post involves two words commonly understood by Americans, but originating in other languages, and their English equivalent. I use both foreign words frequently in everyday language, thanks to my French and Spanish classes.

Adios:
Spanish, definition: "goodbye" or "farewell"
literal meaning: "a Dios" :: "to God"
origin: "a Dios vos acomiendo" :: "I commend you to God"

Adieu:
French, definition: also "goodbye" or "farewell"
literal meaning: "a Dieu" :: "to God"
origin: late 14c. Old French, "a Dieu (vous) commant" :: "I commend (you) to God"

Goodbye:
English, definition: "farewell"
meaning: a contraction "Godbwye" with influence "good day" and "good night"
origin: 1590s, "God be with ye"

Would you have ever realized that the root of these words was about God? When I use these words now, they have more meaning for me than just "farewell." They mean the equivalent of "God be with you." These words have more power than we give them credit; let's strive to use the original definition when we say these words.

Adieu.
-ej