English Explanatory Dictionary

nay

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. No.
  2. Introducing a statement, without direct negation.
  3. Or rather, or should I say; moreover (introducing a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one).
intj
  1. No.
noun
  1. A vote against.
  2. A person who voted against.
  3. A denial; a refusal.
verb
  1. To refuse.
adj
  1. Nary; not any
name
  1. Abbreviation of Nayarit: a state of Mexico.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

nā /neɪ/ En-us-nay.ogg

Word forms

nay nays naying nayed

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

aye yea

Derived words

naycation naysay nay-say naysayer nayward
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