nait

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See also: NAIT, naît, näit, and n-áit

English

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Etymology 1

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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

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

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

Etymology 2

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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

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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

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

Alternative forms

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Noun

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nait (plural naits)

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

Etymology 4

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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

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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
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Anagrams

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Finnish

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Verb

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nait

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

Anagrams

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French

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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nait

  1. third-person singular present indicative of naitre

Anagrams

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Tok Pisin

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Etymology

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From English night.

Noun

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nait

  1. night