I. nay 1 /neɪ/ BrE AmE adverb
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old Norse ; Origin: nei ]
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.
II. nay 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
a ‘no’ – used when voting