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nary

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nary adjective, adverb Not a single, no, neither, never, not, not any (especially in phrase nary a and with another negative). [DARE labels this usage “chiefly South, South Midland”]

1862 Carter CW Letters (July 27) Sary I haint re cieved naer letter from you Sense your unkle D. H. Simmons come Back from nasvill. 1916 Combs Old Early English 288 The mountaineer even supplies another article, a, e.g. in “I won’t go nary a step!” 1939 Hall Coll (Deep Creek NC) I couldn’t get nary another shot there, so [the bear] went on out two or three hundred yards. 1954 Arnow Dollmaker 70 Lots a time I don’t think you love me, nary a bit. 1989 Matewan OHP-9 They ain't got nary an aunt or uncle on my daddy's side a-living.

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