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Added 10 October 2026

spay

/speɪ/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about spay at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To destroy or remove the ovaries or uterus (of a female animal) to prevent pregnancy.
We’re having our cat spayed as we don’t want her having kittens.

noun

The act of spaying an animal.

noun

Rare form of spayard.

verb

Alternative form of spae

Origin

From Middle English spayen, spaien, from the Anglo-Norman espeier, equivalent to the Old French espeer (“to cut with a sword”), from espee (“sword”), whence the Modern French épée.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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