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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Na wayis, adv. phr. Also: nae, nee and way(e)s, wai(e)s, vayis, -es, vais. [North. ME. na ways (14th c.), nanwais (Cursor M.), midl. no wayes (14th c.), none wayes (a 1425), early noneweis (Ancr. R.), nanes weies (Layamon); adv. gen. of Na way.Rare in early use, the examples in Leg. S. and Alex. perh. not being original.Written both as one word and as two.]

In no way, not at all, by no means, not in the least. Variously const.Be, in, of, on na wayis, see Way n.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 266.
Ȝet durst I do it na wais [: sais] (c 1580) Alex. i. 1730.
That wist na wayis how thay were Demanit in that felloun fecht 1562-3 Winȝet II. 19/18.
Giue we dissiuir nawais fra this vnderstanding 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 228.
And na wayis dres to daut thame daintelie 1578 Reg. Privy C. III. 60.
He is ane trew man … and nawayis heleit nor concelit the said stirk 1597 Acts IV. 128/1.
The samin lykwayes nawayes previt that … article of the said summondis 1598 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 79. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 24.
The promise … apperteines na wayes to sic … irregulaire persounes 1659 Lanark B. Rec. 172.
That they na wayes wynd upon the braidsyd 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 233.
Quhilks he neewayes did(2) (c 1580) Alex. i. 2060.
Thay micht na wayis indure it lang 1559 Peebles B. Rec. I. 254.
He sall nawayis authorise him or thame [etc.] a1568 Flemyng in Bann. MS. 160 b/50.
That thay dar nawayis cheip 15.. Dum Wyf iii.
We devillis can nawayis latt hir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8401. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 11/6.
We may nawayis langer contene vs Ib. 88/13.
That He may naways be in erd Ib. 67/12. 1570 Crosraguel Chart. II. 3.
My handis … beand bound … [I] could nawayis steir 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 193. 1579 St. A. Baxter Bks. ii. c1590 J. Stewart II. 28/483.
To him in speciall vill scho navayis fald 1585 James VI Ess. 73.
I … could not sleip nor nawayis take me rest 1590 Reg. Morton I. 168.
It … will adwantag him and naways endomag ȝour lordship Ib. 179. 1596 Paisley B. Rec. 171. 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 98. c1600 Montg. Suppl. v. 52.
Quhais witt I can na wayis commend 1632 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 47. 1633 Misc. Spald. C. III. 85.
That he … had navayes lent out the samen 1654 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 325.(3) c1552 Lynd. Mon. (L) 21.
Thy vaniteis na wayis they will advance 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/24.
That al his writtingis … na wayis may be found 1571 Sat. P. xxv. 58.
In me wha nawayis culd devyis To mend this grit mischance 1591-2 Rob Stene 16.
Sic trumpry … In him nawayis I can espy 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xvi.
Na wais 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 292.
Quhilk nawayes can be prejudiciall to yow(4) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 7/17.
We maye nawayis of reasone bot impute that cryme to the hie reproche of ȝour nobilitie(5) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 124/3.
All sik tretaris of the bodye of our Saluiour to be in heavin … and na vais realy and corporally in ony other place 1562-3 Winȝet I. 12/4.
Mony … in thare greif, hes destroyit mony thingis nawayis ydolatricall Ib. II. 4/22.
Bot ȝit naways fuleschlie attemptis he thir thingis Ib. 43/25.
Naways eftir the birthe of the Virgine bot in the self wombe of the Virgine 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 18/4.
It is nawais hard bot verray easie a1578 Pitsc. I. 9/28.
Quhairof his lordis war nawayes content 1580 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 2 b.
And na wais be the support of ony … freindis 1584 Exch. R. XXI. 602.
The auld rentall is navayis diminusit 1585 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 97. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 154 (T). 1585 James VI Ess. 57. 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV. 517. c1590 Fowler II. 67/38.
The Kirk … thoght it nawayis expedient to fast vpon Sonday 1591 Misc. Spald. C. III. 162. 1593 St. A. Baxter Bks. 6.
Quhilk has beine neglectit and nawayis collectit thir four yeris bipast 1597 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 152. c 1603 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL. 109. 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 10. 1625 Justiciary Cases I. 20.
That the … dittay is nawayis relevant 1627 Ib. 73.
The said Andro Rowane nawayis repenting him selff [etc.] 1633 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II. 103.
And we being nawayes of mynd or intentioun to prejudge thame … of the samen 1634 Contract (Jam. s.v. Coutch).
The foirsaids lands … lyis rinrig and navayis comodeyuslie coutchit nor laid be itself 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 109. 1677 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 12 Dec.
In fortificatioune … of all former acts … and nawayes derogative therto(6) 1513 Doug. iv. i. 71.
In cays … thé list inclyne na ways Nowthir prynce nor duke to tak as for husband 1562-3 Winȝet I. 75/26.
Ȝit be quhat ressoun can ȝe affirm generalie fayth naways to be in ony but cheritie? Ib. 93/27.
Commanding ws naways to dimit the law of our mother 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 526. 1594 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 68.
Their previe exercise na wayis to be haid or allowit a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 13.
Their intentioun was nawayis to thrall hir 1599 Misc. Spald. C. II. 144. 1622 Black Bk. Taymouth 375. 1634 Dumbarton B. Rec. 45.
To find caution to lieff his victualls … and naways transport the same out of the kingdom