A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Nay, adv. and n. Also: ney. [ME. and e.m.E. nay, nai (13th c.), early ME. naȝȝ (Orm), næi, nei (12th c.), ON. nei, cognate with OE. ná (see Na adv.2 and adv.3).]
1. A word used in rejecting a suggestion or refusing a request, also for contradicting a statement or answering negatively a rhetorical question. ? As in e.m.E., used only when the suggestion etc. contradicted contained no negative word.
No. = Na adv.3(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 1071.
Thane all … sad worthy war that he … suld welcum be, Bot the lady ȝet sad: Nay, Anis ȝet we wil assay [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii. 5204.
The Erle sayd than debonarly, Nay, that is all to hard trewly Ib. vii. 1550. a1500 Peblis to Play 155.
Abyd! quod scho; Wy, nay! quod he c1475 Wall. x. 604.
Wallace him prayt, Cum fra ȝon sotheroun King. The Bruce said, Nay, thar lattis me a thing [etc.] Ib. xi. 238. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 98 (M).(2) a1500 Seven S. 1233.
Nay nay, said he, lat be thi sonȝe 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6412.
Thow sall not sa away, … Trowis thow to chaip? Nay, nay! Ib. 7581.
Nay, nay, not sa, my jois 1570 Sat. P. x. 48.
My maister ainis! quod I, ȝit is he so! Nay, nay, quod thay, he is with vs ago(3) 1456 Hay I. 104/28.
Bot to say that in all othir cas touchand the faith he suld do resoune I traist that nay, he may nocht do it Ib. 160/16.
As to the first sicht it semys that nay Ib. 199/17.
To the quhilk he ansueris first that nay, he aw nocht to do it [etc.] Ib. 120/15, 209/3, 246/13.
b. Or nay, = or not. (Only in Nisbet, after Purvey). — c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matthew xxii. 17.
Is it leeffull that tribut be gevin to the emperour or nay [P. ether nay]
2. To say nay.a. To make refusal, to express opposition or denial; to refuse to assent, oppose or deny (to or till a proposition, allegation, proposal or request).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xlii. 72.
Thai … mocht be naway get hyre … to consent to Quincyane Bot sad nay ay in ane c1420 Bute MS. 172.
The marchandis sais at thair hustal has sondryt thair wynys, the mayster sais nay c1450-2 Howlat 271.
Sum said to and sum fra, Sum na and sum ȝa 1456 Hay I. 182/32.
And gif the senescall wald say that [etc.] … I say nay Ib. 228/9.
Certaynly I say nay, and I sall prove that be the lawis Ib. 236/18. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 182.
With anys ȝha amend thou may Thocht thow a thousand tymis say nay a1500 Peblis to Play 104.
Ane bad pay, ane vther said nay 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 124.
Eith is defens to say nay or be dum c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 998.
I can not tell how thay did play Bot I beleue scho said not nay a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xviii. 53.(2) c1400 Troy-bk. i. 370.
As now we say notht nay thar-till 1456 Hay I. 154/7.
To that I say nay, for sen [etc.]
b. To make refusal (to) (til or with a person); to deny the request of, to refuse or turn away (a person).Also to say plat nay til, to refuse flatly. a1400 Leg. S. xli. 120.
Bot scho plat nay ay sad hym til c1420 Ratis R. 1048.
Gyf thai twa sais thé nocht bot nay, I pray thé vryth thi wyll away And gif dysspyt at vantone wyll That hop and resone sais na tyll a1500 Henr. III. 100/105.
Scho said nay With men that wald hir wed a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii. 14.
I will nocht dennyit till nane that will by it For silver nane salbe said nay c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. lxxxii. 8.
Quhen I ane ballat till him bair He sonȝeit nocht nor said me nay
c. Also hop I nay, ? I hope not, I would rather not (Hope v.). — a1540 Freiris Berw. 268 (M).
Deme eit with me and drink gif that ȝe may. The gud wyf said meiklie, Hop I nay: It war mair tyme in to ȝour bed to be
3. n. An utterance of the word ‘nay’; a negative answer, dissent, denial or refusal.Forout, withoutin, ony nay, without dispute, undeniably, assuredly, certainly, (also ME. (Cursor M.), and e.m.E.). This (that) is na (no) nay, It cannot be denied, undeniably (also ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E.). To nik, neck, one with nay, to refuse one's request, see Nik v.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 13.
Nocht anerly be Cristine men That he is red thare-for, we kene, Bot be the Jow forout nay a1500 Henr. Fab. 1371 (Bann.).
My natall land is Rome withowttin nay 1535 Stewart 15695.
Quhilk sall cum vpoune the latter day Doun to this eirth withoutin ony nay(2) c1450-2 Howlat 113.
I haue appelit to ȝour presence … And till accus natur this is no nay a1500 Rauf C. 689.
Heir is ryaltie … With all nobilnes anournit and that is na nay a1500 K. Hart 138.
Ane legioun … Folowit this quene trewlie this is no nay(3) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 173.
Wysmen … Thar ȝha is ȝhai, thar nay is nay Thai wys thaim weill ore at thai say 1567 G. Ball. 8.
Lat ȝour talk be nay and ȝe Except ane juge do ȝow constraine To testifie the veritie(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 37.
Sum … That hes oft nay with grit labour a1568 Bann. MS. 135 a/42.
Thow ma mend twa nayis with anis said ȝe a1568 Bann. MS. 239 a/7.
Gif ȝe delay and with ane ney me quyt
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"Nay adv., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/nay_adv_n>
