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• ary
  ary

  adjective

  any; anyone.
• -ary
  -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.

ary

¹ American  

[air-ee] / ˈɛər i /

adjective

Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

1. any; anyone.

2. none, not any; nary.

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-ary ² American  

1. 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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-ary British  

suffix

1. (forming adjectives) of; related to; belonging to

   cautionary

   rudimentary

2. (forming nouns)

   1. a person connected with or engaged in

      missionary

   2. a thing relating to; a place for

      commentary

      aviary

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Usage

What does -ary mean? The combining form -ary is a suffix with a variety of meanings. In some words, it is used to denote an object, particularly a receptacle or place. In some other terms, it is used to mean "pertaining to; connected with." Additionally, in some English terms it means "contributing to" or "for the purpose of." It is often used in everyday and technical terms. The form -ary comes from the Latin -ārius and -ārium, meaning “thing connected with or employed in, place for." By way of French, English has inherited numerous suffixes with similar meanings to that of -ary, including -aire, as in millionaire; -eer, as in engineer; -er, as in archer; or -ier, as in financier. Check out all four entries to learn more.

Etymology

Origin of ary¹

First recorded in 1810–20; alteration of e'er a ever a, in sense “any”

Origin of -ary²

Middle English -arie, from Latin -ārius, -a, -um; English personal nouns reflect -ārius, while objects and places reflect -ārium or -āria. Inherited and adopted French forms of this suffix are -er ², -eer, -ier ², -aire; -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ary

The government did not say how many Germany had requested to buy, but the VSB spokesman said the ary had said it would be possible to dispense with a limited number of tanks.

From Reuters ● Mar. 3, 2023

He has tried to stir Hanoi and the "provisional revolution ary government" into active negotiations at Paris, only to find no break in the stone wall of Communist intransigence.

From Time Magazine Archive

When they leave, Van Dyke says: "The next time we're invited to a liter ary dinner party, will you say to me, 'Let's stay home and can some plums'?"

From Time Magazine Archive

Hamberger said he was so "greatly distressed" that he needed medical care, "and is still unable to properly perform his normal and ordi ary duties as a father and a husband."

From Time Magazine Archive

“You never need ary invitation to John’s home, Nancy. It’s yom, too, and you’ll hev welcome any day.”

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt