Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old Norse
Origin: nei

nay

1 adverb
     
nay1
1 [sentence adverb] literary used when you are adding something to emphasize what you have just said:
a bright - nay, a blinding light
2 old use used to say no:
Nay, lad. It's not that bad.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary