nay

adj

Etymology: From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no. The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

1. Nary; not any

   “'Tis easy to do this experiment, though nay substance will do: we shall need a special one.”

   “Nay man could have come out of such a situation unscathed.”

adv

Etymology: From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no. The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

1. No.

   “Duke Magnus, Duke Magnus, plight thee to me, I pray you still so freely; Say me not nay, but yes, yes!”

2. Introducing a statement, without direct negation.

   “Nay, what are you smiling at so damnably?”

3. Or rather, or should I say; moreover (introducing a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one).

   “His face was dirty, nay, filthy.”

   “[…] And proved not only horse, but cows, / Nay pigs, were of the elder house: / For beasts, when man was but a piece / Of earth himself, did th' earth possess.”

intj

Etymology: From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no. The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

1. No.

name

1. Abbreviation of Nayarit: a state of Mexico.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no. The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

1. A vote against.

   “I vote nay, even though the motion is popular, because I would rather be right than popular.”

   “Recently senators could fax in their yeas or nays to the committee chairman.”

2. A person who voted against.

   “The vote is 4 in favor and 20 opposed; the nays have it.”

3. A denial; a refusal.

   “And my povert' no wight nor can nor may Make comparison, it is no nay.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no. The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

1. To refuse.

   “the cardinall then being bishop of Winchester, tooke vpon him the state of cardinall, which was naied and denaied him, by the king of most noble memorie”