nay
nay Lexical Profile
nay Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
Or rather; not only so, but more emphatically (used to introduce a stronger or more precise word or statement than the one just used).
"It will take months, nay, years to rebuild the historic bridge."
No (now archaic, regional, or used in formal parliamentary voting to express refusal or dissent).
"Most members of the committee voted nay on the proposed amendment."
• noun
A negative answer, refusal, or vote against a motion, or a person who casts such a vote.
"When the speaker called for the vote, the nays clearly outnumbered the ayes."
• interjection
An expression of refusal, denial, disagreement, or dissent (now primarily archaic or dialectal).
"Nay, I cannot accept such an extravagant gift in good conscience."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse "nay" (a formal or archaic word for "no" or "or rather") with its homophone "neigh" (the sound made by a horse). In modern usage, "nay" is largely restricted to parliamentary voting ("the ayes and the nays") or rhetorical amplification ("difficult, nay, impossible").
• Rhymes for nay
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old Norse "nei", a contraction of "ne" (not) and "ei" (ever, always). Historically, "nay" was used to answer questions framed in the affirmative, whereas "no" was used for negatively framed questions.