ary

¹

[ air-ee ]

adjective

, Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

1. any; anyone.
2. none, not any; nary.

-ary

²

1. a suffix occurring originally in loanwords from Classical and Medieval Latin, on adjectives ( elementary; honorary; stationary; tributary ), personal nouns ( actuary; notary; secretary ), or nouns denoting objects, especially receptacles or places ( library; rosary; glossary ). The suffix has the general sense “pertaining to, connected with” the referent named by the base; it is productive in English, sometimes with the additional senses “contributing to,” “for the purpose of,” and usually forming adjectives:

   complimentary; visionary; revolutionary; inflationary.

-ary

suffix

1. forming adjectives of; related to; belonging to

   cautionary

   rudimentary

2. forming nouns
   1. a person connected with or engaged in

      missionary

   2. a thing relating to; a place for

      commentary

      aviary

Word History and Origins

Origin of ary¹

First recorded in 1810–20; alteration of e'er a ever a, in sense “any”

Origin of ary²

Middle English -arie, from Latin -ārius, -a, -um; English personal nouns reflect -ārius, while objects and places reflect -ārium or -āria. Inherited and adopted French forms of this suffix are -er ², -eer, -ier ², -aire; -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ary¹

from Latin -ārius, -āria, -ārium

Example Sentences

The name was first reported Friday by ARY, a private Pakistani TV channel.

From The Daily Beast

I've often thought hit didn't look jest fair fer God 'lmighty t' make sech a woman 'thout ary man t' match her.

From Project Gutenberg

But you bet there ain't ary man lives can ask Jim any fool questions while Jim's a lookin' at him.

From Project Gutenberg

Why, hit's--hit's--jest a caring fer somebody more'n fer ary one else in th' whole world.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't guess Dad would see ary principle in this, 'cause there might be some truth in what you boys said.

From Project Gutenberg

"I've lived all my days without ary winder, an' got along mighty well," said she.

From Project Gutenberg