Bid adieu
Say goodbye, take leave of, as in It’s beyond my bedtime, so I bid you all adieu, or I’ll be glad to bid adieu to these crutches. French for “goodbye,” adieu literally means “to God” and was part of à dieu vous commant, “I commend you to God.” Adopted into English in the 1300s, it was first recorded in Chaucer’s Troilus and Cressida (c. 1385). Today it is considered quite formal, although it also is used humorously.
Historical Examples
Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa David Livingstone
Cowboy Songs Various
Frank on the Lower Mississippi Harry Castlemon
The Royal Institution Bence Jones
Historic Tales, Volume 11 (of 15) Charles Morris
Over the Ocean Curtis Guild
Gerfaut, Complete Charles de Bernard
The Bondman Hall Caine
Letters from Palestine J. D. Paxton
The Iron Pincers Eugne Sue
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a daring or bold resistance to authority or to any opposing force. open disregard; contempt (often followed by of): defiance of danger; His refusal amounted to defiance. a challenge to meet in combat or in a contest. bid defiance to, to offer resistance; defy. in defiance of, in spite of; notwithstanding: There was a splendid […]
- Bidden
a past participle of bid1 . invited. to command; order; direct: to bid them depart. to express (a greeting, farewell, benediction, or wish): to bid good night. Commerce. to offer (a certain sum) as the price one will pay or charge: They bid $25,000 and got the contract. Cards. to enter a bid of (a […]
- Bid fair
free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fair judge. legitimately sought, pursued, done, given, etc.; proper under the rules: a fair fight. moderately large; ample: a fair income. neither excellent nor poor; moderately or tolerably good: fair health. marked by favoring conditions; likely; promising: in a fair way to succeed. Meteorology. (of […]
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to command; order; direct: to bid them depart. to express (a greeting, farewell, benediction, or wish): to bid good night. Commerce. to offer (a certain sum) as the price one will pay or charge: They bid $25,000 and got the contract. Cards. to enter a bid of (a given quantity or suit): to bid two […]
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bid1 (def 12). noun (stock exchange) the price at which a stockjobber is prepared to purchase a specific security Compare offer price