aye

[ahy]

adverb

yes.

noun

an affirmative vote or voter, especially in British Parliament, corresponding to yea in U.S. Congress.

Also ay.

Origin of aye

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier spelling I, of uncertain origin

Can be confusedaye eye I

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for ayes

affirmative, always, continually, okay, vote

Examples from the Web for ayes

Contemporary Examples of ayes

Just after midnight, the vote won with 219 ayes, including an unexpected 49 Republicans and 170 Democrats.
House Passes Bill to End Medical Marijuana Raids by the DEA
Abby Haglage
May 30, 2014
When the 12 anti-protest laws were voted on in Parliament, the Speaker even did not count the ayes.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Tenders Bloody Resignation
Oleg Shynkarenko
January 29, 2014
In the end, 217 Labour and 44 Liberal Democrats joined 126 Conservatives members of Parliament in the “ayes.”
British Conservatives: Out and Proud
Peter Jukes
February 6, 2013

Historical Examples of ayes

The bill passed the House, February 11, by 29 ayes, 19 noes.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
Mr. Bronston supported it in the Senate, where it received 26 ayes, one no.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
In the Assembly it received 36 ayes, 22 noes, not the required majority.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
It was then tabled and taken up again May 13, receiving 14 ayes, 15 noes.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
It passed the House by 98 ayes, 29 noes, but was killed in the Senate.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various

British Dictionary definitions for ayes

aye

ay

sentence substitute

yes: archaic or dialectal except in voting by voice

aye aye

an expression of compliance, esp used by seamen
Britishan expression of amused surprise, esp at encountering something that confirms one's suspicions, expectations, etc

noun

a person who votes in the affirmative
an affirmative vote

Compare nay

Word Origin for aye

C16: probably from pronoun I, expressing assent

aye

adverb

Scot always; still

Word Origin for aye

Old Norse ei ever; Old English ā; compare Latin aevum an age, Greek aion aeon, aiei 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

Word Origin and History for ayes

aye

interj.

"assent," 1570s, of unknown origin, perhaps a variant of I, meaning "I assent;" or an alteration of Middle English yai "yes" (see yea), or from aye (adv.) "always, ever."

aye

adv.

"always, ever," c.1200, from Old Norse ei "ever" (cognate with Old English a "always, ever"), from PIE *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity" (cf. Greek aion "age, eternity," Latin aevum "space of time;" see eon).