aby

aby · verb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*uzbugjaną
2. Old English · inherited fromābyċġan“to buy; pay for; buy off; requite; recompense; redeem; perform; execute”
3. Middle English · inherited fromabyen
4. English todayaby

From Middle English abyen, abien, abiggen, from Old English ābyċġan (“to buy; pay for; buy off; requite; recompense; redeem; perform; execute”), from Proto-Germanic *uzbugjaną, equivalent to a- + buy. Cognate with Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌱𐌿𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (usbugjan). Not related to abide.

Aby · proper noun²

1. Old Norse · derived fromá“river”
2. English todayAby

From Old Norse á (“river”) + býr (“town”). Literally "Town on a River" or "River Town". Cognate with Swedish Åby and Danish Aaby, both other towns.

Aby · noun³

A clipping of the word.

First known use, by meaning

• from 12th c. To pay the penalty for (something); to atone for, to make amends.
• from 12th c. To pay (something) as a penalty, to atone for; to suffer (something).
• from 16th c. To endure or tolerate (something); to experience.
• 12th–16th c. To pay for (something); to buy.
• 12th–16th c. To pay the penalty; to atone.
• 14th–16th c. To endure; to remain.