goodby
UK[ɡʊdˈbaɪ]US[ɡʊdˈbaɪ]
interj
A word said when someone is leaving or when a conversation or relationship is ending.
n
An instance of saying 'goodby'; a farewell.
Etymology
The word 'goodby' originates from a late 16th-century contraction of the parting phrase "God be with ye." Over time, the religious connotation diminished, and the phrase underwent phonetic erosion and spelling alteration. The first element shifted from "God" to "good" by association with other polite farewells like "good day" or "good night." The modern abstract meaning of a farewell or parting salutation evolved from this fixed expression, losing its literal compositional meaning entirely.
Analysis
This word is a contraction of the phrase "God be with ye." It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She waved goodby as the train pulled out of the station.
It was a tearful goodby after their summer together.
He left without saying goodby to anyone.