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ay

1 American  
[ey] / eɪ /

adverb

Archaic.

  1. ever; always.

ay 2 American  
[ey] / eɪ /

interjection

Archaic.

  1. (used to express regret or sorrow.)

ay 1 British  
/ eɪ /

adverb

  1. archaic ever; always

"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
ay 2 British  
/ eɪ /

interjection

  1. archaic an expression of misery or surprise

"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
ay 3 British  
/ aɪ /

  1. 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

Etymology

Origin of ay1

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

Origin of ay2

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A tale of heartbreak or betrayal is likely to be punctuated by hoots of laughter or mocking cries of ay!

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2023

NOTES: Semifinals, Thursday, 4 p.m. ay higher seeds.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2023

Garcia said he was unaware of the ruling, which could bar him from ay European events he was hoping to play.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2023

England batter Jonny Bairstow completes England's second-fast Test century to rapturous applause at Trent Bridge on the fifth ay of the second Test against New Zealand.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2022

“And Maria Teresa, ay, Dios,” Dedd sighs, emotion in her voice in spite of herself.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.