ay

UK: /aɪ/ US: (ā for 1-2; ī for 3)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ay¹  (ā), adv. [Archaic.]

1. ever;
   always.

Also, aye. 

• Scandinavian; compare Old Norse ei, cognate with Old English ā ever
• Middle English ei, ai 1150–1200

ay²  (ā), interj. [Archaic.]

1. (used to express regret or sorrow.)

• Middle English 1300–50

ay³  (ī), adv., n. 

1. aye¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ay / eɪ/ adverb

1. ever; always

Etymology: 12th Century ai, from Old Norse ei; related to Old English ā always, Latin aevum an age, Greek aiōn

ay / aɪ/ sentence_substitute , noun

1. a variant spelling of aye1

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

aye¹ or ay /aɪ/   adv., interj. 

1. yes:
   Aye, sir.

n. [countable]

2. an affirmative vote or voter:
   "Sixteen ayes, 5 no's: the ayes have it.''

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

aye¹  (ī), adv. 

1. yes.

n. 

2. an affirmative vote or voter, esp. in British Parliament, corresponding to yea in U.S. Congress.

Also, ay. 

• earlier spelling, spelled I, of uncertain origin, originally 1570–80

aye²  (ā), adv. 

1. ay¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

aye, ay / aɪ/ sentence_substitute

1. yes: archaic or dialectal except in voting by voice

noun

1. a person who votes in the affirmative
2. an affirmative vote

Compare nayEtymology: 16th Century: probably from pronoun I, expressing assent