adjective
nary
NAIR-ee/ˈneri/
Not even one.
The open carton contains nary an egg.
Etymology
“Never a” denies the presence of even one item, giving nary its emphatic negative force. The familiar expression “nary a” repeats an article already present in its historical source.
In context
Well, there they are, cattle tracks. Hundreds of them. All going into that stream. And nary a one of them coming out.
More examples
- He offered nary a word of thanks.
- The cupboard held nary a spare cup.
- She returned with nary a scratch.
Forms
nary
Similar words
- not one
- Not one is the ordinary equivalent; nary is a more informal or literary emphatic form.
- none
- None stands independently; nary normally comes before a noun, often with a.