bay
bay
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bay" is /beɪ/.
/beɪ/:
/b/: voiced bilabial stop
/eɪ/: diphthong, starting with a mid-front unrounded vowel and gliding towards a high-front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bay
Plural Noun: bays
Verb (base form): bay
Verb (third-person singular present): bays
Verb (present participle): baying
Verb (past tense/past participle): bayed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward.
Synonyms: cove, inlet, gulf, fjord, sound
Antonyms: peninsula, cape, promontory
A designated area within a larger space, often set apart for a specific purpose.
Synonyms: alcove, niche, recess, compartment, cubicle
Antonyms: expanse, open space, void
The deep, prolonged cry of a dog or wolf, especially when hunting or at something.
Synonyms: howl, bark, cry, ululation
Antonyms: whimper, silence, murmur
Verb
(Of a dog or wolf) To bark or howl loudly, especially in pursuit of prey or when cornered.
Synonyms: howl, bark, cry out, yelp
Antonyms: whisper, whimper, mute
To hold at a distance or keep at bay (figurative, derived from the hunting sense).
Synonyms: deter, repel, fend off, ward off, keep off
Antonyms: attract, invite, welcome, draw in
Examples of Use
Books:
"He paused at the window, gazing out at the tranquil bay, where fishing boats bobbed gently on the water." (From The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by C.P. Smith)
"The hound's mournful bay echoed through the forest, signaling that the hunt was on." (From Shadows of the Wild by Elara Vance)
Newspapers:
"Developers are proposing a new luxury condominium complex overlooking Monterey Bay, sparking debate among local residents." ( San Francisco Chronicle)
"Police managed to keep the agitated crowd at bay with a strong perimeter, preventing any escalation of the protest." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"The article discusses the ecological restoration efforts underway in Chesapeake Bay to improve water quality and protect marine life." (National Geographic online)
"Our comprehensive guide to the best swimming spots in the Caribbean highlights secluded coves and hidden bays perfect for a relaxing getaway." (Lonely Planet Travel Blog)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The climax of the film takes place in a remote bay, where the protagonist confronts the villain amidst a raging storm." (From the screenplay for Ocean's Fury)
Television Series: "In the latest episode, the detective tracks the suspect to an old boathouse situated in a deserted bay." (From Coastal Crimes, Episode 3, Season 2)
Video Game: "Players must navigate their ship through a treacherous bay, avoiding enemy patrols and hidden reefs." (In-game text from Pirate's Legacy, released 2023)
Music: "Standing by the bay, watching the ships go by, feeling the sea breeze on my face." (Lyrics from the song "Coastal Serenade" by The Tides)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's meet up at the loading bay around 3 PM to pick up the supplies." (Casual conversation)
"We managed to hold the competition at bay with our innovative new product." (Business meeting discussion)
"Did you hear the dog baying at the moon last night? It was quite eerie." (Informal conversation)
10 Quotes Using Bay
"She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies; / And all that’s best of dark and bright / Meet in her aspect and her eyes: / Thus mellow’d to that tender light / Which heaven to gaudy day denies. / One shade the more, one ray the less, / Had half impair’d the nameless grace / Which waves in every raven tress, / Or softly lightens o’er her face; / Where thoughts serenely sweet express / How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. / And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, / So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, / The smiles that win, the tints that glow, / But tell of days in goodness spent, / A mind at peace with all below, / A heart whose love is innocent! / Her brow where bay leaves gleamed." (Lord Byron)
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed; his soul is filled with the bay." (Albert Einstein)
"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, / And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; / And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, / And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking, / And the gull's cry and the whale's bay and the wild call." (John Masefield)
"And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, / Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; / O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, / O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? / Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, / And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.' / And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave / O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! / This is the land of freedom, and the home of the brave, / Where the bay of the hounds is heard no more." (Francis Scott Key)
"A dog's a dog, and a cat's a cat, / And a pig's a pig, and that is that. / A horse is a horse, and a cow's a cow, / And a hen's a hen, and that's how now. / But a man's a man, and a woman's a woman, / And a child's a child, and that's not uncommon. / And a bay is a bay, and that's where the ships lie." (Traditional English Rhyme)
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, especially when you are at the bay." (Sun Tzu, The Art of War)
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get, unless you are at the bay." (Forrest Gump)
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, and the bay of the hound in the distance." (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. First, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel and shining morning face, creeping like snail unwillingly to school. And then the lover, sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, in fair round belly with good capon lined, with eyes severe and beard of formal cut, full of wise saws and modern instances; and so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, with spectacles on nose and pouch on side; his youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide for his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, turning again toward childish treble, pipes and whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivion, sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything, save for the bay of the distant sea." (William Shakespeare, As You Like It)
"I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am, and the bay of the ocean was my symphony." (Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar)
Etymology
The word "bay" has a fascinating history, with its different meanings actually coming from different origins!
Let's break them down:
1. "Bay" (as in a body of water):
Origin: This "bay" comes from Old French, specifically the word "baie." This French word likely came from a Latin word, but the exact Latin root isn't completely clear. Some linguists believe it might be related to a word for "to gape" or "to open wide," which makes sense for an open body of water.
First Known Use and Meaning: The earliest recorded use of "bay" referring to an inlet of the sea in English is from the late 14th century. It carried the same meaning then as it does today – a broad curve in a coastline, providing a sheltered area for ships.
2. "Bay" (as in the bark of a dog):
Origin: This "bay" comes from a completely different source: Old French again, but this time from the word "bayer," which meant "to gape, to yawn, to bark." This word, in turn, likely came from an imitative sound – like the "bow-wow" sound of a dog.
First Known Use and Meaning: In English, this sense of "bay" (the deep cry of a dog) first appeared in the early 13th century. So, it actually predates the "body of water" meaning in English. It referred specifically to the sustained, deep bark of a hound, especially when hunting or cornering prey. This is also where we get the phrase "to hold at bay," meaning to keep something at a distance, like a hunting dog keeping its quarry from escaping.
3. "Bay" (as in a compartment or section, like a loading bay):
Origin: This meaning of "bay" also traces back to Old French, from the word "baee," meaning "opening" or "gap." This word is related to the verb "bayer" (to gape, to yawn) that we saw with the dog's bark. The idea is of an open space or recess.
First Known Use and Meaning: This sense of "bay" appeared in English around the early 15th century. It originally referred to an opening in a wall, like a window bay or an open space in a building. Over time, it evolved to mean any distinct section or compartment within a larger structure.
So, while they sound and are spelled the same, the different "bays" have distinct historical journeys!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bay
At bay: To keep something or someone from attacking or coming too close.
Hold at bay: To prevent someone or something from coming closer or having an effect.
Bring to bay: To corner an animal during a hunt, or figuratively, to force someone into a difficult situation where they must confront a problem.
Baying at the moon: (Often refers to a dog) To howl uselessly or express anger/frustration to an unresponsive party.
Stand at bay: To maintain a defensive position.
Keep the wolf from the door with a bay: To prevent extreme poverty or hunger. (Using "bay" as a direct, though less common, substitute for "wolf")
A quiet bay in a storm: A calm or peaceful place amidst chaos. (Original phrase)
Beyond the bay: Out of reach or far away. (Original phrase)
Echoing bay: A sound that resonates widely. (Original phrase)
In the same bay: Sharing a similar situation or predicament. (Original phrase, similar to "in the same boat")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bay from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
