Careful Words

nay (n.)

nay (adv.)

He that will not when he may,

When he would he shall have nay.

John Heywood (Circa 1565): Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.

Have you not heard it said full oft,

A woman's nay doth stand for naught?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Passionate Pilgrim. xiv.