ary

[ air-ee ]

/ ˈɛər i /

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adjective Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

any; anyone.

none, not any; nary.

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THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ary

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

Definition 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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for ary

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

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