nary

[ nair-ee ]

/ ˈnɛər i /

adjective Older Use.

not any; no; never a: nary a sound.

Nearby words

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for nary

Venetians sip their coffee in quiet squares and walk their dogs along the waterfront with nary a tourist in sight.
After the Wedding: George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in Venice|Barbie Latza Nadeau|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I remember my early years as full of excitement, friends, and adventure, nary an iron bar in sight.
This Is What It Is Like To Be Deaf From Birth|Quora Contributor|December 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Marshall himself would have nary a cross word for Dixie of course.
The ‘Tennessee Crackers’ Would Have Never Happened|Michael Tomasky|November 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This, of course, contradicted years of NFL statements, and there has been nary a peep since.
This Book Will Stop You Watching Football|Kevin Fixler|October 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

It is, in short, the same old dog-eared Republican playbook with nary an acknowledgement that Obama just won reelection.
Why Paul Ryan’s Star Dimmed|Howard Kurtz|March 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nary a rod of corduroy will they lay to give their own young ones a decent walk.
Aunt 'Liza's Hero and Other Stories|Annie Fellows Johnston
His money was gone to that bourne whence "nary red" would ever return.
The History of Peru|Henry S. Beebe
Nary a bit of hardtack, but the wagons will be along presently, and you can get all you want.
An Autobiography of Buffalo Bill (Colonel W. F. Cody)|Buffalo Bill (William Frederick Cody)
“Nary mind the half-hearted lot,” said Noah Webster, at this juncture putting his spoke in the wheel.
Picked up at Sea|J.C. Hutcheson
Howsumdever, thar's nary a thing I wouldn't do for you—you knows thet?'
Continental Monthly, Vol. II. July, 1862. No. 1.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for nary

nary

/ (ˈnɛərɪ) /

adverb

dialect not; nevernary a man was left

Word Origin for nary

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

nary

adj.

1746, alteration of ne'er a, short for never a.