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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.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

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. 2023

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
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