[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nay.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / nay

[← N](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/N/)

# nay

«nay» in Mova's school dictionary: **«no»** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb and interjection (nay — old or formal); noun (a nay, nays)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (old-fashioned) Nay means «no». [tree →](https://md.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://md.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://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#m3)

### sense 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://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x1)
- The vote was ten yeas and four nays. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x2)
- The task was difficult, nay, impossible. [tree →](https://md.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://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x4)
- The senators shouted «nay!». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x5)
- Whether you say yea or nay, we must decide tonight. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/#x6)
- “Nay,” purred Bagheera, “that may not be. [tree →](https://md.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 the corpora

- [le nez ("NAY") is the nose; the z is silent and the plural is also nez.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/french/16-the-body/9/)
- [And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.'](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.457/)
- [And they said unto him: 'Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1371/)
- [And he said unto them: 'Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.'](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1373/)
- [And the people said unto Joshua: 'Nay; but we will serve the LORD.'](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/JOS.668/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «nay» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nay/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.