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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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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