aye¹ / ī/ (also ay) • interj. archaic or dial. said to express assent; yes: aye, you're right about that. ∎  (aye, aye) Naut. a response acknowledging an order: aye, aye, captain. ∎  (in voting) I assent: all in favor say, “aye.”• n. an affirmative answer or assent, esp. in voting.PHRASES: the ayes have it the affirmative votes are in the majority.aye² / ā/ • adv. archaic or Scot. always or still.PHRASES: for aye forever: I shall treasure the memory for aye.

aye yes. XVI. In earliest use spelt I (XVI–XVIII), later ai, ay, and ey; aye not common before XIX; of uncert. orig. Cf. OFris. ay.