Adieu; Good-Bye; Farewell
The various forms of leave-taking have a more special significance than is generally awarded them. "Adieu" (adieu) signifies, "To God I commend you." "Good-by" is a contraction of "God be with you;" while "Farewell" means "Be happy," or more literally, "May you journey well."
No words befit a leave-taking so well as those of Shakespeare:--
"Should we be taking leave,
As long a time as we have yet to live,
The loathness to depart would grow;
If we shall meet again, we do not know,
Therefore our everlasting farewell take;
If we do meet again, then we shall smile,
If not, why then this parting was well made."
As long a time as we have yet to live,
The loathness to depart would grow;
If we shall meet again, we do not know,
Therefore our everlasting farewell take;
If we do meet again, then we shall smile,
If not, why then this parting was well made."