nay

[ney]

See more synonyms for nay on Thesaurus.com

adverb

and not only so but; not only that but also; indeed: many good, nay, noble qualities.
Archaic. no (used in dissent, denial, or refusal).

noun

a denial or refusal.
a negative vote or voter.

Origin of nay

1125–75; Middle English nai, nei < Old Norse nei no, contraction of ne not + ei ever; see na, ay¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for nay

Contemporary Examples

The vote in the Senate was 81-18, with 27 Republicans voting aye and 18 nay.
No Country for Old Moderates
Michael Tomasky
October 24, 2013
Of course, the Democratic majority holds the votes to confirm Hagel even if Republicans unanimously vote "nay."
Make Democrats Own Their Hagel-Flop
David Frum
February 25, 2013
I would bet today, though, that they don't even have 40 at the end of the day; more like 15 to 25 nay votes would be my guess.
The Hagel Nomination
Michael Tomasky
January 7, 2013
It is seriously - nay, spectacularly - flawed in its most fundamental aspects.
David's Bookclub: Eisenhower in War and Peace
David Frum
December 23, 2012
And this tale involved the writing of a biography—which would just so happen to involve hours, nay years, of travel for them.
Paula Broadwell, Eminem, & More Spurned Lovers Who Went Ballistic
Paula Froelich
November 15, 2012

Historical Examples

“Nay, he is safe at home, where I would I were,” sighed Kit.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
Much, nay most, of this was undoubtedly owing to the genius of the songstress.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
"Nay, I had other things upon my mind," the squire answered.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
Nay, we must carry on and play the part of the helpless merchant.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
Nay, keep yours, my fair sirs, for we may have work for them.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle

British Dictionary definitions for nay

nay

sentence substitute

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

noun

1. a person who votes in the negative
2. a negative vote

adverb

(sentence modifier) archaic an emphatic form of no 1

Compare aye 1

Word Origin

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

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 nay

word of negation, late 12c., from a Scandinavian source, cf. Old Norse nei, compound of ne "not" (see un-) + ei "ever" (see aye (2)).

nay

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}nay

Examples from the Web for nay

Contemporary Examples

The vote in the Senate was 81-18, with 27 Republicans voting aye and 18 nay.

Of course, the Democratic majority holds the votes to confirm Hagel even if Republicans unanimously vote "nay."

I would bet today, though, that they don't even have 40 at the end of the day; more like 15 to 25 nay votes would be my guess.

It is seriously - nay, spectacularly - flawed in its most fundamental aspects.

And this tale involved the writing of a biography—which would just so happen to involve hours, nay years, of travel for them.

Historical Examples

“Nay, he is safe at home, where I would I were,” sighed Kit.

Much, nay most, of this was undoubtedly owing to the genius of the songstress.

"Nay, I had other things upon my mind," the squire answered.

Nay, we must carry on and play the part of the helpless merchant.

Nay, keep yours, my fair sirs, for we may have work for them.

nay

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for nay

Origin of nay