aye

[ ahy ]

/ aɪ /

adverb

yes.

noun

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

Nearby words

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
The ayes seem to have it, the ayes have it, and the motion is carried.
America First|Various

So lusty a chorus of “Ayes” answered that Aunt Betty playfully covered her ears, till the clamor had subsided.
Dorothy on a House Boat|Evelyn Raymond
The ayes seem to have it, the ayes have it, and the paragraph on slavery is struck out.
America First|Various
He inwardly debated whether he should remain to the feast or not, and the ayes had it.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13|Elbert Hubbard
The question was called for, and Mr. Lawrence required the ayes and noes.
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. I (of 16)|Thomas Hart Benton

British Dictionary definitions for ayes (1 of 2)

aye

ay

/ (aɪ) /

sentence substitute

yes: archaic or dialectal except in voting by voice

aye aye

an expression of compliance, esp used by seamen
British an 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

British Dictionary definitions for ayes (2 of 2)

aye

/ (əɪ) /

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 (1 of 2)

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."

Word Origin and History for ayes (1 of 2)

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).

aye

adverb

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of aye

Examples from the Web for ayes

British Dictionary definitions for ayes (1 of 2)

aye

ay

sentence substitute

noun

Word Origin for aye

British Dictionary definitions for ayes (2 of 2)

aye

adverb

Word Origin for aye

Word Origin and History for ayes (1 of 2)

aye

Word Origin and History for ayes (1 of 2)

aye