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View synonyms for ayah

ayah

[ ah-yuh ]

noun

  1. an Indian maid or nurse, especially one employed in a colonial household.


ayah

/ ˈaɪə /

noun

  1. (in the East, Africa, and other parts of the former British Empire) a maidservant, nursemaid, or governess, esp one of Indian or Malay origin Compare amah
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of ayah1

First recorded in 1775–85; from Hindi āyā, from Portuguese aia “maidservant,” from Latin avia “grandmother,” equivalent to av(us) “grandfather” + -ia feminine suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ayah1

C18: from Hindi āyā, from Portuguese aia, from Latin avia grandmother
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Example Sentences

The most complicated part was coding the text-messaging system, Ayah recalls.

Ayah Abu Basheer is a lecturer at the Islamic University in Gaza City.

The day before the steamer reached Southampton, Mamma asked her if she would not like to see the ayah again.

That is her Ayah, who comes up from behind at a pace so different from her youthful mistress's.

All, that is, save Nina's ayah, who opportunely produced a bottle of smelling-salts and passed it to the mem-sahib.

It was the next morning, and Nina's ayah sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.

When Colonel Darling returned from parade the ayah was gone from the passage-way outside his wife's room.

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