nay

CEFRB2

/neɪ/

adverb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adverb

    An old-fashioned word meaning no or more exactly.

  2. 02

    adverb

    Extra detail

    Introducing a statement, without direct negation.

Examples

  • Nay, then, I will try it.

  • His face was dirty, nay, filthy.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5

Deep Dive

adverb

Extra meaning

  1. Or rather, or should I say; moreover (introducing a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one).

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A vote against.

  2. A person who voted against.

More examples

In context

  • I vote nay, even though the motion is popular, because I would rather be right than popular.

  • The vote is 4 in favor and 20 opposed; the nays have it.

  • 'Tis easy to do this experiment, though nay substance will do: we shall need a special one.

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

He strongly disagreed with the new proposal, so he said blank during the vote.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adverb

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.