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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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.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use ary in a sentence
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
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