Definition of NAY

nay

Plural: nays

Noun

  • A negative vote or refusal.
  • a negative
    • "the nays have it"
  • A vote against.
  • A person who voted against.
  • A denial; a refusal.

Adverb

  • not this merely but also; not only so but
    • "each of us is peculiar, nay, in a sense unique"

Adv

  • No.
  • Introducing a statement, without direct negation.
  • Or rather, or should I say; moreover (introducing a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one).

Intj

  • No.

Verb

  • To refuse.

Adj

  • Nary; not any

Examples

  • 'Tis easy to do this experiment, though nay substance will do: we shall need a special one.
  • His face was dirty, nay, filthy.
  • His opponent cast a silent ’nay’ to his suggestion of a dictionary challenge.
  • I vote nay, even though the motion is popular, because I would rather be right than popular.
  • Nay man could have come out of such a situation unscathed.
  • The vote is 4 in favor and 20 opposed; the nays have it.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no.
The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

Antonyms

yea, aye

Scrabble Score: 6

nay: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
nay: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
nay: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

nay: valid Words With Friends Word