Language is the most malleable of stuff. Transformations take place over time. One of the most interesting to me is "goodbye," which is an alteration of "God be with you." How did it happen? Probably something like this:
God be with you
God be with ye
God be wi' ye
God b'w'ye
God bwye
Good-bye ( may be influenced by "good day" and "good night")
Goodby
Another chance to hear a golden voice. The Irish do not say good-bye but rather, "Until we meet again".
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