nay

American  

[ney] / neɪ /

adverb

1. and not only so but; not only that but also; indeed.

   many good, nay, noble qualities.

2. Archaic. no (used in dissent, denial, or refusal).

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noun

1. a denial or refusal.

2. a negative vote or voter.

nay British  

/ neɪ /

1. archaic an archaic or dialect (except in voting by voice) word for no 1

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noun

1. 1. a person who votes in the negative

   2. a negative vote

adverb

1. archaic (sentence modifier) an emphatic form of no 1

Etymology

Origin of nay

1125–75; Middle English nai, nei < Old Norse nei no, contraction of ne not + ei ever; na, ay ¹

Example Sentences

There’s a strong possibility — nay, probability — that a lot of you skipped the original incarnations of “Spartacus,” starting with the first season that bowed in 2010.

From Salon

On Tuesday the House and Senate passed the Epstein files bill with only one nay vote.

From The Wall Street Journal

It had been a busy year — nay, decade — for the Jacksons’ costume designer, the image architect behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Bad” eras.

From Los Angeles Times

"There was no coercion. It was more just me figuring out in that space, do I want to take this? I had every opportunity to say: 'Yay', 'nay', or 'yeah, I'll take it,'" he says.

From BBC

But private air travel has survived—nay, soared—amid other cutbacks.

From The Wall Street Journal