What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Nay vs Aye - What's the difference?

nay | aye | Antonyms |

Aye is a antonym of nay.



In archaic terms the difference between nay and aye

is that nay is no while aye is ever, always.

As a conjunction nay

is or even, or more like, or should I say. Introduces a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one.

As a verb nay

is to refuse.

As an adjective nay

is nary.

As an abbreviation NAY

is nayarit, a state of Mexico.

As an interjection aye is

yes; yea; a word expressing assent, or an affirmative answer to a question.

nay

English

Adverb

(-)
  • (archaic) no

    • Derived terms

    * nay-say * naysayer

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • or even, or more like, or should I say. Introduces a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one.
  • * His face was dirty, nay filthy.
  • * 1663 ,
    • [...] And proved not only horse, but cows, / Nay pigs, were of the elder house: / For beasts, when man was but a piece / Of earth himself, did th' earth possess.
  • * 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. ยง 18.
    • And even in our wildest and most wandering reveries, nay in our very dreams, we shall find, if we reflect, that the imagination ran not altogether at adventures,

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A vote against.
    • I vote nay , even though the motion is popular, because I would rather be right than popular.
  • A person who voted against.
    • The vote is 4 in favor and 20 opposed, the nays have it.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To refuse.
    • (Holinshed)

    Adjective

  • nary

    • Anagrams

    * * * *

    aye

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) aye, ai, agg, from (etyl) ei, ey, from (etyl) ).

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (archaic) ever, always
    • Quotations
    * (English Citations of "aye")
    References

    Etymology 2

    Probably from use of aye as expression of agreement, or from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * ay

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • yes; yea; a word expressing assent, or an affirmative answer to a question.
    • Usage notes
    It is much used in , North Wales, (viva voce) voting in legislative bodies, etc., or in nautical contexts.
    Synonyms
    * yes * yea
    Antonyms
    * nay * no
    References
    * * *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An affirmative vote; one who votes in the affirmative.
    • "To call for the ayes''' and nays;" "The '''ayes have it."
    Synonyms
    * yes

    Anagrams

    * yea English three-letter words Scottish English ----