nary a

1. Not one, as in There's nary a mention of taxes in that speech, or Nary an officer could be seen. This archaic-sounding contraction of “never a” remains in current use. [Mid-1700s]

Example Sentences

Veronika shrieked and wept and chased her brothers ’round the room that passed for a nursery in the Babushkinovs’ house: a spare bedchamber no bigger than a closet, with uncomfortable chairs and nary a bookshelf to be found, never mind watercolor paints, or puzzles, or an abacus, or any of the other items Penelope would have deemed essential, had anyone bothered to ask her opinion.

Read more on Literature

Cassiopeia proved it by using her fingers to do sums on her abacus, and flicked the beads up and down with nary a wince.

Read more on Literature

She knew very well that the Swanburne Academy was kept spit-spot; nary a shred of ivy was allowed to grow anywhere near the walls.

Read more on Literature

And though nary a ghost has been sighted — yet — that doesn’t mean I haven’t gotten all the proof I’ve been looking for.

Read more on Salon

Nearly all the performers hailed from the world of worship music; there was nary a nod to what might resonate with people outside white evangelical subculture.

Read more on Salon