aby verb. [ǝ'bʌɪ] arch. Also abye. Pa. t. & pple abought [ǝ'bɔ:t]. (Other forms long obsolete.)
[Old English ābyćġan, from A-¹ + BUY verb, corresp. to Gothic usbugjan.]
1. verb trans. Buy, pay for. OE-E16.

2. verb trans. Pay the penalty for, atone for. OE.
■ E. R. Eddison You shall bitterly aby it.
b. verb intrans. Pay the penalty, atone. ME-L16.

3. verb trans. Pay as a penalty; suffer. LME.
■ W. Morris Thou wouldst abye A heavy fate.

4. = ABIDE (with which aby became formally confused):
a. verb intrans. Endure, remain. LME-L16.
■ Spenser Nought that wanteth rest can long aby.
b. verb trans. Endure, experience; tolerate. obsolete exc. Scot. L16.
■ R. L. Stevenson I never could abye the reek of them.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲