aby

or a·bye

[uh-bahy]

verb (used with object), past and past participle a·bought.

Archaic. to pay the penalty of.

verb (used without object), past and past participle a·bought. Obsolete.

to endure; continue.
to undergo suffering as a penalty.

Origin of aby

before 1100; Middle English abyen, Old English ābycgan. See a-³, buy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for aby

Contemporary Examples of aby

“Aby Rosen and the Mugrabis just bought ten pieces” he said.
The Coolest Works at Frieze
Anthony Haden-Guest
October 22, 2009

Historical Examples of aby

Mark my words, Aby—that acting of yours will do your business.
Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 365, March, 1846
Various
"Spare your 'my dears,' venerable apostate, and open it," said Aby.
Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 365, March, 1846
Various
The unhappy Aby spun like a top into the corner of the passage.
Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 365, March, 1846
Various
Youd pull the bananas off a blind mans pushcart to bring to your Aby.
Hungry Hearts
Anzia Yezierska
Aby was hollering and pulling me to take him to kindergarten.
Hungry Hearts
Anzia Yezierska

British Dictionary definitions for aby

aby

abye

verb abys, abyes, abying or abought

(tr) archaic to pay the penalty for; redeem

Word Origin for aby

Old English ābycgan to pay for, atone for, from bycgan to buy

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