[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/nay/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [N](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/n/) / nay # nay adverb and interjection (nay — old or formal); noun (a nay, nays) «nay» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. (old-fashioned) Nay means «no». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#m1) 2. (formal) Nay is used to add a stronger word: «It was hard, nay, impossible», meaning «not only that, but even». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#m2) 3. (noun) A nay is a «no» vote, as in «the ayes and the nays». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#m3) ### In the lessons In stories and the Bible (old translations), characters say «nay» for «no»: «Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.» In parliaments and meetings, votes are counted as yeas (or ayes) and nays. In formal writing, «nay» strengthens a point. Common phrases: «yea or nay», «the ayes and the nays», «nay, even», «say nay». ### Examples - «Nay, my lord,» said the knight, «I will not go.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x1) - The vote was ten yeas and four nays. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x2) - The task was difficult, nay, impossible. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x3) - In the King James Bible: «Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x4) - The senators shouted «nay!». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x5) - Whether you say yea or nay, we must decide tonight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x6) - “Nay,” purred Bagheera, “that may not be. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x7) ### Note Homophone trap: «nay» (no) sounds like «neigh» (the sound a horse makes). Say NAY. Opposite: «yea» or «aye» (yes). In everyday talk, use «no»; «nay» sounds old or jokey. ## In Jewish tradition In stories and the Bible (old translations), characters say «nay» for «no»: «Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.» In parliaments and meetings, votes are counted as yeas (or ayes) and nays. In formal writing, «nay» strengthens a point. Common phrases: «yea or nay», «the ayes and the nays», «nay, even», «say nay». ### Examples - And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.' (Torah GEN.18.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nay/#x1) - And they said unto him: 'Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. (Torah GEN.42.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nay/#x2) - And he said unto them: 'Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.' (Torah GEN.42.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nay/#x3) - Nay; but He would give heed unto me. (Writings JOB.23.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nay/#x4) - And the people said unto Joshua: 'Nay; but we will serve the LORD.' (Prophets JOS.24.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nay/#x5) - And they said unto her: 'Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.' (Writings RUT.1.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nay/#x6) ### Note Homophone trap: «nay» (no) sounds like «neigh» (the sound a horse makes). Say NAY. Opposite: «yea» or «aye» (yes). In everyday talk, use «no»; «nay» sounds old or jokey. ## Early Modern English ### Meaning A word for "no", or a word that corrects what has just been said ("rather"). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/nay/#m1) ### Then and now Old-fashioned; today we say "no" and "not", and "nay" is only heard in old or formal speech. ### Examples - And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.' (Torah GEN.18.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/nay/#x1) - “Nay,” purred Bagheera, “that may not be. (The Jungle Book) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/nay/#x2) - And they said unto him: 'Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. (Torah GEN.42.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/nay/#x3) ### Note Today: no; rather. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «nay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«nay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nay.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «nay» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«nay» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/nay.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «nay» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/nay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«nay» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/nay.html) on Mova free.