nait

See also: näit, naît, and NAIT

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English naiten, nayten, from Old Norse neita, later variant of Old Norse níta (“to deny, refuse”), from Proto-Germanic *niitjaną (“to say 'no', deny, refuse”), from Proto-Germanic *ne (“no, not”). Cognate with Icelandic neita (“to deny”), Danish nægte (“to deny”), Old English nǣtan (“to annoy, afflict, press upon, trample upon, crush, subdue, injure, destroy”). More at nyte, nay.

Verb

nait (third-person singular simple present naits, present participle naiting, simple past and past participle naited)

  1. (transitive) To refuse; deny; disclaim.

Etymology 2

From Middle English naiten, nayten, from Old Norse neyta (“to use, employ”), from Proto-Germanic *nautijaną (“to use”), from Proto-Indo-European *newd- (“to acquire, make use of”). Cognate with Icelandic neyta (“to make use of, employ”). Related also to Icelandic nýta (“to use, make use of”), Old English nēotan (“to use, make use of, have the use of, have the benefit of, enjoy, employ”). More at note.

Verb

nait (third-person singular simple present naits, present participle naiting, simple past and past participle naited)

  1. (transitive) To use; employ.
  2. (transitive) To go over; recite; repeat.
  3. (reflexive) To exert oneself.

Etymology 3

From Middle English naite, from Old Norse neyte, neyti (“use”), from Proto-Germanic *nautiz (“use”).

Alternative forms

Noun

nait (plural naits)

  1. (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Use; profit; foredeal; advantage.
  2. (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Use; end; purpose.

Etymology 4

From Middle English nait, nayt, from Old Norse neytr (“in good order, fit, fit for use”), from Proto-Germanic *nautiz (“useful, helpful”). Compare Old English nyttol (“useful”).

Adjective

nait (comparative naiter or more nait, superlative naitest or most nait)

  1. (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Useful; good at need; fit; able.
  2. (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Quick and effective; deft; skilful.
  3. (Britain dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) In good order; trim; tidy; dainty; clean.
Derived terms
  • naitly

Anagrams

Finnish

Verb

nait

  1. Second-person singular indicative present form of naida.
  2. Second-person singular indicative past form of naida.

Anagrams

French

Alternative forms

Verb

nait

  1. third-person singular present indicative of naitre

Anagrams

Tok Pisin

Etymology

English night

Noun

nait

  1. night
    • 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Genesis 1:5 (translation here):
      Tulait em i kolim “De,” na tudak em i kolim “Nait.” Nait i go pinis na moning i kamap. Em i de namba wan.
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