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 way, adv. phr. Also: nay and vay, wa; and Navaw. [North. ME. na wai (Cursor M.), midl. no wey; Na a. and Way n. Cf. No way.] In no way, not at all, by no means, not in the least.Chiefly qualifying, and chiefly preceding, a finite verb, but also in other constructions.Also be na way, see Way n.(1) 1375 Barb. xii. 217.
And luk ȝhe na vay brek aray a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 604.
That he wald na wa it for-ga ?1438 Alex. i. 808. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 152/9.
The flud of syn mycht na way approche to hir Ib. II. 9/27.
That na way He will brek it [sc. His promise] Id. Asl. MS. I. 19/18.
His proper curat naway suld be contempnit c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv. 326. Id. Seven S. 30, 613, 1045; etc. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 128/31.
The preciouse bodye … is na vay subieckit to fleschlie calamiteis 1567 G. Ball. 128.
Gude Lord, lat thy command Na way fra me depart 1589 Sutherland Chart. 164.
The said Erle of Caith nes sall nocht … trubill … the said Erle of Sutherland nor his … dependaris … nor naway thrall thame c1590 Fowler II. 39/4. 1596 Dalr. I. 164/23. 1612 (1650) Dundee B. Laws 150.
That the collector sall na vay len the mortclaith to nane [etc.](b) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 36/10.
Bot gif … he forbidis hir and will nay way that she gif almos [etc.](2) 1568 Breadalbane Lett. 1 Nov.
Gif … my lord … will stand my gud freind and swte me nay way I will stay my freindis(3) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 82/2.
He is naway to be reprocheit bot gretumlie to be commendit thairfor(4) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 125/17.
It is na vay the dewite of ane Christiane man to [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 69/28.
The haereseis … naway on this maneir ar to be assaltit 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 16/20.
Quhilk ansuer … is naway to the propos 1608 Acts IV. 406/2.
Incapable and naway able to brooke ony office
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"Na Way adv. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/na_way>