| 释义 |
▪ I. aye, ay, int. (adv.), n.|aɪ|
Forms: 6–8 I, 7 ai, 7–9 ey, 7– aye, ay.
[Appears suddenly about 1575, and is exceedingly common about 1600; origin unknown. The suggestion that it is the same as ay adv. ‘ever, always,’ seems set aside by the fact that it was at first always written I, a spelling never found with ay. But it may have been a dialect form of that word, from some dialect in which it had passed through the senses of always, in all cases, to by all means, certainly, yes (cf. aye but, in sense 2 b; and the history of algate), and so have been taken in literary English for a different word. It is less easy to see in it a phonetic variant or dialect form of ya ‘yea, yes.’ Spelt both aye and ay: the former is in accordance with parliamentary usage, and better on every ground. Aye and eye (which many identify in pronunciation, and which differ at most only in the ‘broader’ or more back sound of aye, are analogous diphthongal words usefully distinguished by their final e from the regular pronunciation of -ay, -ey, in bay, day, gay, hay, etc., and bey, dey, grey, they, convey, etc.: see ay.]
A. int. (? adv.)
1. As an affirmative response to a question: Yes; even so. Common dialectally, and in nautical language; the formal word used in voting ‘yes’ in the House of Commons; but not used for ‘yes’ in modern educated speech or writing, except as an archaism.
1576Tyde Taryeth no Man in Collier E.E. Pop. Lit. 12 If you say I, syr, we will not say no. 1594Drayton Idea 57 Nothing but No and I, and I and No. 1637Heywood Royall King ii. iv, Me my Lord? King. Ey you my Lord. 1684Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 124 Ai, ai, so I mean. 1711J. Greenwood Eng. Gram. 159, I for Yes, is used in a hasty or merry Way, as I Sir, I Sir. 1743Lond. & Country Brew. iv. 284 Hye, says the Victualler, I believe I shall never stand it. 1823Byron Island ii. xxi, ‘Ey, ey!’ quoth Ben, ‘not new, but news enow.’ 1858Longfellow M. Standish iv. 33 The shouts of the mate, and the sailors' ‘Ay, ay, Sir!’ 1878Masque of Poets 53 The mate sprang forward and cried ‘Aye, Aye!’ 1882Daily News 22 Feb. 2/3 The Speaker—I must put the question to the House, as it stands, and the House must say ‘Aye’ or ‘No.’
2. a. Indicating assent to a previous statement, and preliminary to a further or more forcible one.
1598B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. i, I, so I do. 1670R. Coke Disc. Trade 46, I, and the Law..Bars us of any future supply. 1714Addison Spect. No. 568 ⁋1 Ay, Answer that if you can, Sir. 1821Keats Isabel xxiv, To-day we purpose, ay, this hour we mount. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey iii. iv. 104 Once, ay twice. 1865R. W. Dale Jew. Temp. xxi. (1877) 237 Aye, and we take the promises in their fullest and broadest meaning.
b. aye, but{ddd}Indicating provisional assent to a statement for the sake of rebutting it.
1589Nashe Almond for Parr 4 a, I, I, my maisters, you may mocke..but I warrant you, etc. 1640J. Dyke Worthy Commun. 122, I; but you doe us wrong. 1662Dryden Wild Gallant Wks. 1725 I. 94 He shall set thee forth I warrant thee. Burr. I, but where's the Money for this? 1875H. E. Manning Mission H. Ghost x. 282 Ay, but it was not only men who have so endured. We have known young girls..rise up with the courage of confessors.
B. as n. An affirmative answer or vote; in pl. (elliptically) those who so vote.
1589Marprel. Epit. B iij, Here then is the puritans I..and M. doctors no. 1669Marvell Corr. 127 Wks. 1875 II. 289 The ayes proved 138 and the noes 129. 1771Junius Lett. xliv. 238 A simple ay or no. 1851H. Martineau Hist. Peace (1877) III. iv. x. 69 The ayes were loud and multitudinous. 1857Toulm. Smith Parish 62 The whole number present..must range themselves, aye and no, on the two opposite sides of the room. 1882Daily News 30 Mar. 4/7 If the Ayes have it, Mr. Marriott's hostile resolution will be rejected.
▪ II. aye
variant spelling of ay adv. ever. |