nait

See also: NAIT, naît, näit, and n-áit

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English naiten, nayten, borrowed from Old Norse neita, later variant of níta (“to deny, refuse”). Cognate with Icelandic neita (“to deny”), Danish nægte (“to deny”), Old English nǣtan (“to annoy, afflict, press upon”). 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”). Cognate with Icelandic neyta (“to make use of, employ”). Related to Old English nēotan (“to use; to enjoy”). 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

• nate

Noun

nait (plural naits)

1. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Use; profit; foredeal; advantage.
2. (UK 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. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Useful; good at need; fit; able.
2. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Quick and effective; deft; skilful.
3. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) In good order; trim; tidy; dainty; clean.

Derived terms

• naitly

Anagrams

• Atin, ain't, aniṭ, Tina, Tian, tain, anti, tian, tina, Tani, aint, Tain, TINA, -itan, anti-

Finnish

Verb

nait

1. second-person singular present/past indicative of naida

Anagrams

• anti, anti-, tain, tina

French

Alternative forms

• naît

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

nait

1. third-person singular present indicative of naitre

Anagrams

• niât
• tain, ’tain
• tian

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English night.

Noun

nait

1. night
   • 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Port Moresby: Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Jenesis 1:5:

     Tulait em i kolim “De,” na tudak em i kolim “Nait.” Nait i go pinis na moning i kamap. Em i de namba wan.

     →New International Version translation