Middle English Dictionary Entry
naien v.
Entry Info
| Forms | naien v. Also nai(e; p. naied & nai; ppl. i)naied, naide. |
| Etymology | From nai interj. & OF neier, var. of noiier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To refuse; refuse (to do sth.); ~ that; (b) to deny (sth.), gainsay; (c) to withhold (sth. from sb.), refuse (sth. to sb.); ben naied, have a request denied; (d) to make a denial.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)65 : Anoþer nayed also, and nurned þis cawse.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)805 : Þay nay þat þay nolde neȝ no howsez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1836 : He nay þat he nolde neghe in no wyse Nauþer golde ne garysoun.
- ?c1400 Chaucer Bo.(Add 10340)1.m.1.25 : Allas, allas, wiþ how deef an eere deeþ cruel tourneþ awey fro wrecches and naieþ [vr. nayteþ] to closen wepyng eyen.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)310 : Nayyn [Hrl: Naytyn] or denyyn: Nego, Abnego, Denego.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)5248 : On my massage..now must ye goo ffurth in to perse, and this may not be nayde.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)19180 : Þe merueil say ȝe þat þei did we may not nay hit [Vsp: nite], so is hit kid.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Lnsd 851)I.1013 : None oþere man schatel his sinne bot he him self, ne schal noȝt nay [vr. nayte] it or denye his sinne.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.222 : 'Whethir is it þus, or elles demest þow?' 'To nayen þis, wot I not why ne how.'
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2829 : It myȝt nat be I-nayid, But Geffrey had..hem betrayed.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)231/8 : It may nat be nayed but that we goo as dooth the vessell in the see withoute sterne.
- a1500 Beholde me (Hrl 4012)p.156 : My blode, man, ffor the ran, hit may not be naide.
c
- (1429) Proc.Privy C.3.332 : I truste þat my soverain Lord..wol not naye me oþer þinges.
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2441 : The state of cardinal..was nayed and denyed hym by the kyng.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)213/2 : Let it be remembred how many..indignacions of men that ben nayed and put oute..prince ledinge werre is constreyned to herken.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1797 : That ye desire of me shall nott be nayed.
d
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)31/7 : 'The persones, every thing as I have sayd, han knowleged hem-selfe.' 'Ye,' quod she, 'but what if they hadden nayed?'