different between against vs nay

English

Alternative forms

• againest (obsolete), agaynest (obsolete), agaynst (obsolete)
• ageinest (obsolete, rare), ageinst (obsolete), agenest (obsolete), agenst (obsolete), ageynest (obsolete, rare), ageynst (obsolete), agin (colloquial or humorous)
• 'gainst, gainst (poetic)

Etymology

Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes (“in opposition to”), a southern variant of agen, or directly from again, either way with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic -t was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est. Surface analysis again +? -st (excrescent ending).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????(?)nst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /????nst/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /???e?nst/
• Hyphenation: a?gainst

Preposition

against

1. In a contrary direction to.

2. In physical opposition to; in collision with.
3. In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.

4. Close to, alongside.

   A row of trees stood against a fence.
5. In front of; before (a background).

6. In contrast or comparison with.

7. In competition with, versus.

   • “[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons?! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
8. Contrary to; in conflict with.

   Doing this is against my principles.

   It is against the law to smoke on these premises.

   There was no car in sight so we crossed against the red light.

9. In opposition to.

   Antonym: for

   (with implied object) Ten voted for, and three voted against.
10. Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.

    Antonym: on

    That horse is fifty-to-one against, so it has virtually no chance of winning.

11. In exchange for.

12. As counterbalance to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
13. As a charge on.

    Tax is levied against income from sales.

14. As protection from.
15. In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).

    The stores are kept well stocked against a time of need.

    • 2003, Rodger J. Bille, A Few of the Chosen: Survivors of Terrorism, Trafford Publishing ?ISBN, page 8

      Rod, who always distrusted such methods, was forced to accept the new way but had begun to stash away large amounts of cash against the day that the system might be sabotaged or failed entirely.

16. (Hollywood) To be paid now in contrast to the following amount to be paid later under specified circumstances, usually that a movie is made or has started filming.

    The studio weren't sure the movie would ever get made, so they only paid $50,000 against $200,000. That way they wouldn't be out very much if filming never began.
17. (obsolete) Exposed to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Synonyms

• (in competition with): versus

Antonyms

• with

Translations

Conjunction

against

1. (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 6:

     He now gave Mrs Deborah positive orders to take the child to her own bed, and to call up a maid-servant to provide it pap, and other things, against it waked.

Translations

Anagrams

• Gaitans, antigas, antisag

English

Etymology

From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *n? (“not”). More at no.

Pronunciation

• enPR: n?, IPA^(key): /ne?/
• Homophones: nee, neigh, Neagh
• Rhymes: -e?

Adverb

nay (not comparable)

1. (now chiefly archaic or regional) No. [from 12th c.]
2. (now chiefly archaic or regional) Introducing a statement, without direct negation. [from 14th c.]
   • 1876, Henry James, Roderick Hudson:

     Nay, what are you smiling at so damnably?

3. (now archaic or humorous) Or rather, or should I say; moreover (introducing a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one). [from 16th c.]

Translations

Usage notes

In Early Modern English, nay was used to respond to a positive question, while no was used to respond to a negative question. Over time, this distinction disappeared.

Interjection

nay

1. (archaic) No.

Derived terms

• nay-say
• naysayer

Noun

nay (plural nays)

1. A vote against.

   Antonyms: aye, yea

2. A person who voted against.

3. (archaic) A denial; a refusal. [1]

Verb

nay (third-person singular simple present nays, present participle naying, simple past and past participle nayed)

1. (obsolete) To refuse.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Holinshed to this entry?)

Adjective

nay (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Nary. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Anagrams

• AYN, Ayn, NYA, Yan, any, any%, ayn, yan

Ainu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /naj/

Noun

nay

1. swamp.
2. small river.

Trivia

The ainu word -nay is frequently seen in names of places in Hokkaido and Northeast Japan, such as Wakkanai, Shizunai, etc.

Tagalog

Noun

nay

1. abbreviation of nanay, the informal form of ina

Vietnamese

Etymology

Cognate with này.

Pronunciation

• (Hà N?i) IPA^(key): [naj??]
• (Hu?) IPA^(key): [naj??]
• (H? Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [na(?)j??]

Adjective

nay • (????, ????, ????)

1. now, nowadays

Derived terms

Related terms

• này (“this”)