ay

[ ey ]

/ eɪ /

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adverb Archaic.

ever; always.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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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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Also aye .

Origin of ay

1150–1200; Middle English ei, ai<Scandinavian; compare Old Norse ei, cognate with Old English ā ever

Words nearby ay

axonometry, axoplasm, axseed, ax to grind, Axum, ay, Ayacucho, ayah, ayahuasca, Ayana, Ayande

Other definitions for ay (2 of 2)

ay²

[ ey ]

/ eɪ /

interjection Archaic.

(used to express regret or sorrow.)

Origin of ay

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ay in a sentence

Go away-ay, send them away, We’re nurses with covid vaccine.
Style Invitational Week 1424: We Bee back — a neologism contest|Pat Myers|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
Go away-ay, send them away, They shouldn’t be cutting the line.
Style Invitational Week 1424: We Bee back — a neologism contest|Pat Myers|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
MARTA: With sacks of money and the anti-Communist tactics of your Senator Jzo-ay McCarthy.
Whit Stillman on the 20th Anniversary of ‘Barcelona’, His New Amazon Series, and the Myth of the Ugly Expat|Michael Weiss|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mais ce n'est pas de merveille; car, comme j'ay dict, ils sont enfans.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

On dit neantmoins que les Armouchiquois se craignirent de tels voysins, et cette cause firent mourir ce capitaine que j'ay dit.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Le jour suyvant, j'allay visiter les Sauvages, et y fis mon accoustum, ainsy qu j'ay dict de Kinibqui.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
L dessus allegresse & rejoussance, 178 & actions de graces Dieu en procession sur la montagne que i'ay mentionn ci-dessus.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Ie ne veux rememorer ce que i'ay crit en mon Histoire de la Nouvelle-France, livre 4.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for ay (1 of 3)

ay¹

/ (eɪ) /

adverb

archaic, poetic ever; always

Word Origin for ay

C12 ai, from Old Norse ei; related to Old English ā always, Latin aevum an age, Greek aiōn

British Dictionary definitions for ay (2 of 3)

ay²

aye

/ (eɪ) /

interjection

archaic, poetic an expression of misery or surprise

Word Origin for ay

C14 ey: from an involuntary cry of surprise

British Dictionary definitions for ay (3 of 3)

ay³

/ (aɪ) /

sentence substitute, noun

a variant spelling of aye 1

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