nary
[nair-ee]
- not any; no; never a: nary a sound.
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Origin of nary
First recorded in 1740–50; variant of ne'er a never a
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for nary
Contemporary Examples
Venetians sip their coffee in quiet squares and walk their dogs along the waterfront with nary a tourist in sight.
I remember my early years as full of excitement, friends, and adventure, nary an iron bar in sight.
Marshall himself would have nary a cross word for Dixie of course.
This, of course, contradicted years of NFL statements, and there has been nary a peep since.
It is, in short, the same old dog-eared Republican playbook with nary an acknowledgement that Obama just won reelection.
Historical Examples
Hope with empty pockets is rich compared to wealth with "nary a" hope.
But I noticed that he hadn't spoke for nary Conservative but himself.
The Depot MasterJoseph C. Lincoln
But nary sign was there of a private secretary and assistant.
The Depot MasterJoseph C. Lincoln
I didn't rescue that scalawag because I had any Christian sentiments, nary bit.
Blazed Trail StoriesStewart Edward White
"Nary a worm," he exclaimed in disgust, as he threw the tin into the lake.
A Son of the CityHerman Gastrell Seely
nary
- dialect not; nevernary a man was left
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Word Origin
C19: variant of ne'er a never a
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
Word Origin and History for nary
adj.
1746, alteration of ne'er a, short for never a.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper