aby

verb \ ə-ˈbī \

variants: or abye

Definition of aby

abyed; abying or abyeing; abys or abyes

archaic

: to suffer a penalty for

Origin and Etymology of aby

Middle English abien, abiggen, abuggen "to pay for, obtain at the cost of labor or suffering, redeem, pay a penalty for," from a-, weak perfective prefix (going back to Old English a-) + bien, biggen "to purchase, pay for" — more at abide, ¹buy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year