aby

or a·bye

[ uh-bahy ]

/ əˈbaɪ /

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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.

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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

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effect

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Origin of aby

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

Words nearby aby

ABV, ABVD, abvolt, abwatt, Abwehr, aby, Abydos, abysm, abysmal, abyss, abyssal

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

How to use aby in a sentence

“Aby Rosen and the Mugrabis just bought ten pieces” he said.
The Coolest Works at Frieze|Anthony Haden-Guest|October 22, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Aby crawled away from his father, rose, and then bade his father follow him.
Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 365, March, 1846|Various
Another ten minutes of unmingled joy, and Aby is at the door.
Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 365, March, 1846|Various
"What would you think now—" Mr. Mollett was continuing; but Aby interrupted him somewhat violently.
Castle Richmond|Anthony Trollope

Aby had well known that his father in his present mood would not stand the manner in which the interruption was attempted.
Castle Richmond|Anthony Trollope
Old Mollett turned round to strike at his son; but even in his present state he was somewhat quelled by Aby's eye.
Castle Richmond|Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for aby

aby

abye

/ (əˈbaɪ) /

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