I. ˈnā adverb
Etymology: Middle English nay, nei, from Old Norse nei, from ne not + ei ever — more at ne , aye
1. : no — used formerly as a negative answer to a question asked or a request made and now superseded by no except in oral voting
2. : not this merely but also : not only so but — used to mark addition or substitution of a more explicit or emphatic phrase and thus interchangeable with yea
each of us is peculiar, nay , in a sense, unique — S.J.Brown
II. noun
( -s )
1. : denial , refusal , prohibition
2.
a. : a negative reply or vote
the nays outnumbering the ayes
b. : one who votes no
voted among the nays
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Arabic nāy, from Persian
: a vertical end-blown flute of ancient origin used in Muslim lands