Question

nay

Accepted Answer

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionarynay I \ˈnā\ adverb ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Old Norse nei, from ne not + ei ever — more at no, aye DATE 13th century: no II noun DATE 14th century1. denial, refusal2. a. a negative reply or vote b. one who votes no III conjunction DATE 1560: not merely this but also : not only so but the letter made him happy, nay, ecstaticEnglish Etymologynay word of negation, c.1175, from O.N. nei, compound of ne "not" (see un-) + ei "ever." Nay-say "refusal" is from 1631.Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7naynay / nei / adverb1. (old-fashioned) used to emphasize sth you have just said by introducing a stronger word or phrase (强调刚提及之事)不仅如此,而且: Such a policy is difficult, nay impossible. 这一政策很难实施,甚至是不可能的。 2. (old use or dialect) no 不⇨ compare yeaWebster's Third New International Dictionary, UnabridgednayI. \ˈnā\ adverbEtymology: Middle English nay, nei, from Old Norse nei, from ne not + ei ever — more at ne, aye1. : no — used formerly as a negative answer to a question asked or a request made and now superseded by no except in oral voting2. : not this merely but also : not only so but — used to mark addition or substitution of a more explicit or emphatic phrase and thus interchangeable with yea < each of us is peculiar, nay, in a sense, unique — S.J.Brown >II. noun(-s)1. : denial, refusal, prohibition2. a. : a negative reply or vote < the nays outnumbering the ayes > b. : one who votes no < voted among the nays >III. noun(-s)Etymology: Arabic nāy, from Persian: a vertical end-blown flute of ancient origin used in Muslim lands

Nay Not Adverb Date Noun A Negative Middle