An archaic or poetic word meaning to pay the penalty for something or to suffer for a wrongdoing.
From Old English 'abycgan,' related to 'buy' in its original sense of 'to pay' or 'to atone'; the meaning evolved from literal payment to spiritual or physical suffering as compensation.
The verb 'aby' is hiding in the old English word 'buy'—originally 'buy' meant to 'pay a price' for something, and 'aby' meant to pay with your body or suffering instead of money!
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