ay

1
[ ey ]
/ eɪ /

adverb Archaic.

ever; always.

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anchorite
a granular metamorphic rock.
a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.
a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.
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Also aye.

Origin of ay

1
1150–1200; Middle English ei, ai < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse ei, cognate with Old English ā ever

Words nearby ay

axoplasm, axoplasmic transport, axosomatic, axseed, axum, ay, ayacucho, ayah, ayahuasca, ayana, ayande

Definition for ay (2 of 3)

ay2
[ ey ]
/ eɪ /

interjection Archaic.

(used to express regret or sorrow.)

Origin of ay

2
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Definition for ay (3 of 3)

ay3
[ ahy ]
/ aɪ /

adverb, noun

aye1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for ay

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