nay

The story

1. Middle English · inherited fromnayen“to refuse, deny, gainsay”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*nai“never”
3. Old Norse · derived fromnei“no”
4. Middle English · inherited fromnai
5. English todaynay

From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no. The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

First known use, by meaning

• from 12th c. No.
• from 14th c. Introducing a statement, without direct negation.
• from 16th c. Or rather, or should I say; moreover (introducing a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one).