aye - Definitions from Dictionary.com

aye¹ also ay Audio Help   (ī) Pronunciation Key
n.   An affirmative vote or voter: The ayes outnumber the nays on this issue.

adv.   Yes; yea: voted aye on the appropriations bill.

[Perhaps from Middle English *ayye : ay, always; see aye² + ye, yes; see yea.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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aye² also ay Audio Help (ā) Pronunciation Key
adv. Always; ever: pledged their love for aye.

[Middle English ai, from Old Norse ei; see aiw- in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
aye (1)

"assent," 1576, perhaps a variant of I, meaning "I assent," or an alt. of M.E. yai "yes."

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aye (2)

"always, ever," c.1200, from O.N. ei "ever" (cognate with O.E. a "always, ever"), from PIE *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity" (cf. Gk. aion "age, eternity," L. aevum "space of time;" see eon).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Aye

Aught\, n. [OE. aught, ought, awiht, AS. [=a]wiht, [=a] ever + wiht. [root]136. See Aye ever, and Whit, Wight.] Anything; any part. [Also written ought.]

There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord has spoken. --Josh. xxi. 45

But go, my son, and see if aught be wanting. --Addison.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Aye

Ay\, adv. Same as Aye.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Aye

Aye\, Ay \Ay\, adv. [Perh. a modification of yea, or from the interjection of admiration or astonishment, OE. ei, ey, why, hey, ay, well, ah, ha. Cf. MHG. & G. ei, Dan. ej. Or perh. akin to aye ever.] Yes; yea; -- a word expressing assent, or an affirmative answer to a question. It is much used in viva voce voting in legislative bodies, etc.

Note: This word is written I in the early editions of Shakespeare and other old writers.

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AYE

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