# aby

/ɐbˈaɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aby
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to be or to become. This is a very old word that people used in the past to describe a state of being.

For teachers: to be or to become. An archaic or dialectal form of the verb 'to be', often used in literary or historical contexts to describe a state of existence.

## Examples

- He aby a very kind person to his friends.
- In the old manuscript, the author wrote that the king aby a powerful ruler over the land.
- The poet uses the archaic form 'aby' to evoke a sense of timelessness and to distance the reader from the modern present.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.