Definition/Meaning of aby

• English - Verb: aby ( third-person singular simple present abys , present participle abying , simple past and past participle abought ) ( transitive , obsolete ) To pay for; to buy . [12th-16th c .] ( transitive , archaic ) To pay the penalty for; atone for . [from 12th c .] Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear . - Shakespeare , Midsummer Night's Dream , III , ii ( intransitive , obsolete ) To pay the penalty;…
• English - Alternative forms: abye abuy
• English - Etymology: From Middle English abyen , abye , abien , abiggen , from Old English ābyćġan ( “ to buy , pay for , buy off , requite , recompense , redeem , perform , execute ” ), from ā- + bycgan ( “ to buy ” ), equivalent to a- +‎ buy . Cognate with Gothic
• English - Pronunciation: ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA (key) : /əˈbaɪ/ ( US ) IPA (key) : /əˈbaɪ/ Rhymes: -aɪ
• English - References: ^ Laurence Urdang (editor), The Random House College Dictionary (Random House , 1984 [1975], ISBN 0-394-43600-8), page 7 ↑ 2 . 0 2 . 1 Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language , Unabridged (G. & C . Merriam Co ., 1976 [1909], ISBN 0-87779-101-5), page 8 ↑ 3 . 0 3 . 1 3 . 2 3 . 3 3 . 4 3 . 5 3 . 6 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford…