nait
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)
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)
Etymology 3
From Middle English naite, from Old Norse neyte, neyti (“use”), from Proto-Germanic *nautiz (“use”).
Alternative forms
Noun
nait (plural naits)
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”).
Derived terms
- naitly
Finnish
French
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Audio (file)