nay

[ney] /neɪ/
adverb
1.
and not only so but; not only that but also; indeed:
many good, nay, noble qualities.
2.
Archaic. no (used in dissent, denial, or refusal).
noun
3.
a denial or refusal.
4.
a negative vote or voter.
Origin
1125-75; Middle English nai, nei < Old Norse nei no, contraction of ne not + ei ever; see na, ay1
Examples from the web for nay
  • Every striation is visible, nay gleaming, oiled and under the lights.
  • The kids are our future too, aren't they, nay the leaders of tomorrow.
  • nay saying this does not recognize the use of off peak storage facilities.
  • No representatives of politically-motivated nay-saying groups.
  • He favours the marketplace partly-nay, mainly, it often seems-because of the curbs it places on the mighty.
  • Equipment breakdowns kept preventing me from making nay progress anyway.
  • nay, much more those members of the body which seem to be more feeble.
British Dictionary definitions for nay

nay

/neɪ/
sentence substitute
1.
(mainly archaic or dialect) an archaic or dialect (except in voting by voice) word for no1
noun
2.
  1. a person who votes in the negative
  2. a negative vote
adverb
3.
(sentence modifier) (archaic) an emphatic form of no1
Compare aye1
Word Origin
C12: from Old Norse nei, from ne not + ei ever, ay1
Word Origin and History for nay

word of negation, late 12c., from a Scandinavian source, cf. Old Norse nei, compound of ne "not" (see un-) + ei "ever" (see aye (2)).