ary

[ air-ee ]

/ ˈɛər i /

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adjective Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

any; anyone.

none, not any; nary.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ary

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

Other definitions for ary (2 of 2)

-ary

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.

Origin of -ary

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 -er², -eer, -ier², -aire; cf. -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ary in a sentence

The name was first reported Friday by ARY, a private Pakistani TV channel.
Osama bin Laden Dead: Latest Updates, Photos, Video|The Daily Beast|May 9, 2011|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.
The Shepherd of the Hills|Harold Bell Wright
But you bet there ain't ary man lives can ask Jim any fool questions while Jim's a lookin' at him.
The Shepherd of the Hills|Harold Bell Wright
Why, hit's--hit's--jest a caring fer somebody more'n fer ary one else in th' whole world.
The Shepherd of the Hills|Harold Bell Wright

I don't guess Dad would see ary principle in this, 'cause there might be some truth in what you boys said.
The Shepherd of the Hills|Harold Bell Wright
"I've lived all my days without ary winder, an' got along mighty well," said she.
Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler|Pardee Butler

British Dictionary definitions for ary

-ary

suffix

(forming adjectives) of; related to; belonging tocautionary; rudimentary

(forming nouns)

a person connected with or engaged inmissionary
a thing relating to; a place forcommentary; aviary

Word Origin for -ary

from Latin -ārius, -āria, -ārium

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012