English edit

Verb edit

abuy (present participle abuying, no other forms attested in Modern English)

  1. Alternative form of aby
    • 1607 [1516], Ludovico Ariosto, translated by Iohn Haringtõ [i.e. John Harington], Orlando Furioso, page 301, column 1:
      I am content to die, but ere I die yet, / She that did cauſe it, dearly ſhall abuy it.
    • 1651 January 7, S[amuel]. R[utherford]., “Epiſt. 60.”, in Joshua Redivivus, Or, Three Hundred and Fifty-Two Religious Letters, [], 9th edition, Glasgow: [] John Bryce, [], published 1765, page 415:
      Reſiſting unto blood is little for that precious and never-enough evalted Redeemer, who, when ye are abuying, gave blood ſomewhat dearer than ye gave for him, even the blood of God, Acts xx. 28.
    • 1823, [Walter Scott], “The Bohemians”, in Quentin Durward. [], volume I, Edinburgh: [] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 130:
      "Pale slave of Eblis!" said a man, in imperfect French, "are you robbing him you have murdered?—But we have you—and you shall abuy it."

Anagrams edit