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nay definition

nay (nā)

adverb

  1. no: now seldom used except in voting by voice
  2. not that only, but also: used to reinforce a statement I permit, nay, encourage it

Etymology: ME < ON nei < ne, not + ei, ever: see aye

noun

  1. a refusal or denial
  2. a negative vote or a person voting in the negative
  3. a negative answer
nay Idioms

say someone nay

to refuse or forbid

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Related Discussions (1)
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finagle: fuh-NAY-gul or fuh-NEE-gul134 years ago

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