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Nay (?), adv. [Icel. nei; akin
to E. no. See No, adv.]
1. No; -- a negative answer to a question asked,
or a request made, now superseded by no. See
Yes.

And eke when I say "ye," ne say not
"nay."

I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye shall
all likewisr perish.

And now do they thrust us out privily? nay,
verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

He that will not when he may,

When he would he shall have nay.

&fist; Before the time of Henry VIII. nay was used to
answer simple questions, and no was used when the form of the
question involved a negative expression; nay was the simple
form, no the emphatic. Skeat.

2. Not this merely, but also; not only so,
but; -- used to mark the addition or substitution of a more explicit
or more emphatic phrase.


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