Aby

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /əˈbaɪ/
• US IPA: /əˈbaɪ/
• Rhymes: -aɪ

Alternative forms

• abye
• abuy

Origin

From Middle English abyen, abye,

RHCD|page=7

abien, abiggen,

from Old English ābyćġan ("to buy, pay for, buy off, requite, recompense, redeem, perform, execute"), from ā- + bycgan ("to buy"),

MW3 1976|page=8

equivalent to - + buy. Cognate with Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌱𐌿𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽.

SOED5|page=11

Full definition of aby

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To pay for; to buy. 12th-16th c.
2. (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
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To pay the penalty; atone; to suffer, as a penalty. 12th-16th c.
• 1896, William Morris, The Earthly Paradise, Thou wouldst abye a heavy fate.
4. (transitive, archaic) To pay as penalty, to suffer. from 12th c.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.4:Who dyes, the utmost dolor doth abye;
  But who that lives is lefte to waile his losse ....
5. (intransitive, obsolete) Endure; remain. 14th-16th c.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, Nought that wanteth rest can long aby.
6. (transitive, obsolete, now limited to Scotland) Endure; experience; tolerate. from 16th c.
• 1893, Robert Louis Stevenson, David Balfour, I never could abye the reek of them.

Usage notes

and abide became confused with each other for a period of time.