nay

[ney]

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).

noun

1. a denial or refusal.

2. a negative vote or voter.

nay

/ neɪ /

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nay¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of nay¹

C12: from Old Norse nei, from ne not + ei ever, _ay ¹

Example Sentences

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The lone "nay" came from the Republican lawmaker from Louisiana, Clay Higgins, who defied his party saying his vote was a principled "NO".

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal