Say

• POS: Interjection, Noun, Verb (usu participle), Adverb

CIDE DICTIONARY

Say, imp. 

 Saw.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

Say, n. [Aphetic form of assay.].

•  Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack.  [1913 Webster]

  "If those principal works of God . . . be but certain tastes and says, as it were, of that final benefit."  [1913 Webster]

  "Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes."  [1913 Webster]
•  Tried quality; temper; proof.  [1913 Webster]

  "He found a sword of better say."  [1913 Webster]
•  Essay; trial; attempt.  [1913 Webster]

To give a say at, to attempt. B. Jonson.

Say, v. t. 

 To try; to assay.  B. Jonson.  [1913 Webster]

Say, n. [OE. saie, F. saie, fr. L. saga, equiv. to sagum, sagus, a coarse woolen mantle; cf. Gr. sa`gos. See Sagum.].

•  A kind of silk or satin.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord!"  [1913 Webster]
•  A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth.  [1913 Webster]

  "His garment neither was of silk nor say."  [1913 Webster]

Say, v. t. [OE. seggen, seyen, siggen, sayen, sayn, AS. secgan; akin to OS. seggian, D. zeggen, LG. seggen, OHG. sagēn, G. sagen, Icel. segja, Sw. säga, Dan. sige, Lith. sakyti; cf. OL. insece tell, relate, Gr. 'e`nnepe (for 'en-sepe), 'e`spete. Cf. Saga, Saw a saying.].

•  To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things.  [1913 Webster]

  "Arise, and say how thou camest here."  [1913 Webster]
•  To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to say a lesson.  [1913 Webster]

  "Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
  In what thou hadst to say?"  [1913 Webster]

  "After which shall be said or sung the following hymn."  [1913 Webster]
•  To announce as a decision or opinion; to state positively; to assert; hence, to form an opinion upon; to be sure about; to be determined in mind as to.  [1913 Webster]

  "But what it is, hard is to say."  [1913 Webster]
•  To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or approximation; hence, to suppose; -- in the imperative, followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles.  [1913 Webster]

  "Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double,
  Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?"  [1913 Webster]

It is said, or They say, it is commonly reported; it is rumored; people assert or maintain. -- That is to say, that is; in other words; otherwise.

Say, v. i. 

 To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.  [1913 Webster]
"You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge."  [1913 Webster]
"To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies?"  [1913 Webster]

Say, n. [From Say, v. t.; cf. Saw a saying.].

 A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb.  [1913 Webster]
"He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning snap."  [1913 Webster]
"That strange palmer's boding say,
That fell so ominous and drear
Full on the object of his fear."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Say, v. & n.
--v. (3rd sing. present says; past and past part. said)
1 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) a utter (specified words) in a speaking voice; remark (said 'Damn!'; said that he was satisfied). b put into words; express (that was well said; cannot say what I feel).
2 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) a state; promise or prophesy (says that there will be war). b have specified wording; indicate (says here that he was killed; the clock says ten to six).
3 tr. (in passive; usu. foll. by to + infin.) be asserted or described (is said to be 93 years old).
4 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) colloq. tell a person to do something (he said to bring the car).
5 tr. convey (information) (spoke for an hour but said little).
6 tr. put forward as an argument or excuse (much to be said in favour of it; what have you to say for yourself?).
7 tr. (often absol.) form and give an opinion or decision as to (who did it I cannot say; do say which you prefer).
8 tr. select, assume, or take as an example or (a specified number etc.) as near enough (shall we say this one?; paid, say, {pound}20).
9 tr. a speak the words of (prayers, Mass, a grace, etc.). b repeat (a lesson etc.); recite (can't say his tables).
10 tr. Art etc. convey (inner meaning or intention) (what is the director saying in this film?).
11 intr. a speak; talk. b (in imper.) poet. tell me (what is your name, say!).
12 tr. (the said) Law or joc. the previously mentioned (the said witness).
13 intr. (as int.) US an exclamation of surprise, to attract attention, etc.
--n.
1 a an opportunity for stating one's opinion etc. (let him have his say). b a stated opinion.
2 a share in a decision (had no say in the matter).

Idiom

how say you? Law how do you find? (addressed to the jury requesting its verdict). I etc. cannot (or could not) say I etc. do not know. I'll say colloq. yes indeed. I say! Brit. an exclamation expressing surprise, drawing attention, etc. it is said the rumour is that. not to say and indeed; or possibly even (his language was rude not to say offensive). said he (or I etc.) colloq. or poet. he etc. said. say for oneself say by way of conversation, oratory, etc. say much (or something) for indicate the high quality of. say no refuse or disagree. say out express fully or candidly. says I (or he etc.) colloq. I, he, etc., said (used in reporting conversation). say-so
1 the power of decision.
2 mere assertion (cannot proceed merely on his say-so). say something make a short speech. says you! colloq. I disagree. say when colloq. indicate when enough drink or food has been given.
say the word
1 indicate that you agree or give permission.
2 give the order etc. say yes agree.
that is to say
1 in other words, more explicitly.
2 or at least. they say it is rumoured. to say nothing of = not to mention (see MENTION). what do (or would) you say to? would you like? when all is said and done after all, in the long run. you can say that again! (or you said it!) colloq. I agree emphatically. you don't say so colloq. an expression of amazement or disbelief.

Derivative

sayable adj. sayer n.

Etymology

OE secgan f. Gmc

THESAURUS

Say

Australian ballot, Hare system, Parthian shot, about, absolute power, absolutism, acknowledge, acme, address, affirm, affirmance, affirmation, after-dinner speech, allegation, allege, allocution, almost, animadvert, announce, announcement, annunciate, annunciation, answer, answer back, apostrophe, approximately, approximatively, argue, articulate, ascendancy, assert, assertion, assever, asseverate, asseveration, assume, authority, authorization, aver, averment, avouch, avouchment, avow, avowal, aye, ballot, be afraid, be-all and end-all, believe, blue ribbon, bout, break silence, breathe, bring out, canvass, canvassing, casting vote, chalk talk, championship, chance, charisma, charm, chime, chime in, choice, chorus, cite, clout, come back, come out with, command, comment, communicate, competence, competency, conceive, conclude, conclusion, consequence, consider, constituted authority, contend, control, convey, counting heads, crack, credit, creed, cumulative voting, daresay, debate, deciding vote, decision, declamation, declaration, declare, deduce, deem, delegated authority, deliver, diatribe, dictum, directorship, disclose, discretion, divine, divine right, division, dominance, domination, dominion, dream, echo, effect, effectiveness, eminence, emit, enchantment, enfranchisement, enunciate, enunciation, esteem, eulogy, exclamation, exhortation, expect, express, expression, faculty, fagot vote, fancy, favor, feel, filibuster, first place, first prize, flash back, fling off, for practical purposes, force, forensic, forensic address, formal speech, formulate, franchise, free choice, free decision, free will, full consent, funeral oration, gather, generally, generally speaking, give, give acknowledgment, give answer, give expression, give out with, give tongue, give utterance, give voice, go, good feeling, grant, graveyard vote, greeting, hand vote, harangue, have, headship, hegemony, height, highest, hold, hortatory address, imagine, impart, imperium, importance, in round numbers, inaugural, inaugural address, incidental power, indicate, indirect authority, infer, influence, influentiality, inherent authority, inning, innings, insinuation, insist, interjection, invective, ipse dixit, issue a manifesto, jeremiad, jurisdiction, jus divinum, just, kingship, lawful authority, lay down, leadership, legal authority, legitimacy, let, let be, let out, leverage, lip, list system, lordship, magnetism, maintain, management, manifesto, mark, mastership, mastery, maximum, mention, moment, more or less, most, nay, ne plus ultra, new high, no, noncontingent free will, nontransferable vote, note, observation, opine, opportunity, option, oration, out with, palms, paramountcy, pep talk, peroration, personality, persuasion, philippic, phonate, phrase, pipe up, pitch, place, plebiscite, plebiscitum, plumper, plural vote, poll, polling, position, position paper, positive declaration, potency, pour forth, power, practically, predicate, predication, predominance, preferential voting, prefigure, prepared speech, prepared text, preponderance, prerogative, present, presidency, pressure, prestige, presume, presuppose, presurmise, primacy, proclaim, proclamation, profess, profession, pronounce, pronouncement, proportional representation, proposition, protest, protestation, provisionally accept, proxy, public speech, purchase, put, put forth, put in words, put it, question, quote, raise, react, read, reading, recital, recitation, recite, reckon, record, record vote, reecho, referendum, reflection, regality, register, reign, rejoin, relief, remark, repeat, reply, representation, repute, respond, retort, return, return answer, return for answer, reverberate, right, right to vote, rightful authority, riposte, rising vote, roughly, roughly speaking, round, roundly, royal prerogative, rule, sales talk, salutatory, salutatory address, say in reply, say out, say-so, saying, screed, secret ballot, sentence, set down, set forth, set speech, shoot back, show of hands, single vote, snap vote, sound, sovereignty, speak, speak out, speak up, speech, speechification, speeching, spell, stance, stand, stand for, stand on, state, statement, straw vote, suasion, subjoinder, submit, subtle influence, suffrage, suggestion, suppose, supremacy, surmise, suspect, sway, take, take for, take for granted, take it, take the floor, take to be, talk, talk back, talkathon, tell, the say, the say-so, think, thought, throw off, throw out, time, time at bat, tirade, top spot, transferable vote, turn, understand, upper hand, utter, utterance, valediction, valedictory, valedictory address, verbalize, vested authority, vicarious authority, viva voce, vocalize, voice, voice vote, vote, voting, voting right, vouch, weight, whack, whip hand, whisper, word, write-in, write-in vote, yea, yeas and nays, yes, zenith

ROGET THESAURUS

Say

Speech

N speech, faculty of speech, locution, talk, parlance, verbal intercourse, prolation, oral communication, word of mouth, parole, palaver, prattle, effusion, oration, recitation, delivery, say, speech, lecture, harangue, sermon, tirade, formal speech, peroration, speechifying, soliloquy, allocution, conversation, salutatory : screed: valedictory, oratory, elocution, eloquence, rhetoric, declamation, grandiloquence, multiloquence, burst of eloquence, facundity, flow of words, command of words, command of language, copia verborum, power of speech, gift of the gab, usus loquendi, speaker, spokesman, prolocutor, interlocutor, mouthpiece, Hermes, orator, oratrix, oratress, Demosthenes, Cicero, rhetorician, stump orator, platform orator, speechmaker, patterer, improvisatore, speaking, spoken, oral, lingual, phonetic, not written, unwritten, outspoken, eloquent, elocutionary, oratorical, rhetorical, declamatory, grandiloquent, talkative, Ciceronian, nuncupative, Tullian, orally, by word of mouth, viva voce, from the lips of, quoth he, said he, action is eloquence, pour the full tide of eloquence along, she speaks poignards and every word stabs, speech is but broken light upon the depth of the u, to try thy eloquence now 'tis time.

VB speak of, say, utter, pronounce, deliver, give utterance to, utter forth, pour forth, breathe, let fall, come out with, rap out, blurt out have on one's lips, have at the end of one's tongue, have at the tip of one's tongue, break silence, open one's lips, open one's mouth, lift one's voice, raise one's voice, give the tongue, wag the tongue, talk, outspeak, put in a word or two, hold forth, make a speech, deliver a speech, speechify, harangue, declaim, stump, flourish, recite, lecture, sermonize, discourse, be on one's legs, have one's say, say one's say, spout, rant, rave, vent one's fury, vent one's rage, expatiate, speak one's mind, go on the stump, take the stump, soliloquize, tell, speak to, talk together, be eloquent, have a tongue in one's head, have the gift of the gab, pass one's lips, escape one's lips, fall from the lips, fall from the mouth.

Smallness

N smallness, littleness, tenuity, paucity, fewness, meanness, insignificance (unimportance), mediocrity, moderation, small quantity, modicum, trace, hint, minimum, vanishing point, material point, atom, particle, molecule, corpuscle, point, speck, dot, mote, jot, iota, ace, minutiae, details, look, thought, idea, soupcon, dab, dight, whit, tittle, shade, shadow, spark, scintilla, gleam, touch, cast, grain, scruple, granule, globule, minim, sup, sip, sop, spice, drop, droplet, sprinkling, dash, morceau, screed, smack, tinge, tincture, inch, patch, scantling, tatter, cantlet, flitter, gobbet, mite, bit, morsel, crumb, seed, fritter, shive, snip, snippet, snick, snack, snatch, slip, scrag, chip, chipping, shiver, sliver, driblet, clipping, paring, shaving, hair, nutshell, thimbleful, spoonful, handful, capful, mouthful, fragment, fraction, drop in the ocean, animalcule, trifle, mere nothing, next to nothing, hardly anything, just enough to swear by, the shadow of a shade, finiteness, finite quantity, small, little, diminutive, minute, fine, inconsiderable, paltry, faint, slender, light, slight, scanty, scant, limited, meager, sparing, few, low, so-so, middling, tolerable, no great shakes, below par, under par, below the mark, at a low ebb, halfway, moderate, modest, tender, subtle, inappreciable, evanescent, infinitesimal, homeopathic, very small, atomic, corpuscular, microscopic, molecular, subatomic, mere, simple, sheer, stark, bare, near run, dull, petty, shallow, stolid, ungifted, unintelligent, to a small extent, on a small scale, a little bit, a wee bit, slightly, imperceptibly, miserably, wretchedly, insufficiently, imperfectly, faintly, passably, pretty well, well enough, partially, in part, in a certain degree, to a certain degree, to a certain extent, comparatively, some, rather in some degree, in some measure, something, somewhat, simply, only, purely, merely, at least, at the least, at most, at the most, ever so little, as little as may be, tant soit peu, in ever so small a degree, thus far, pro tanto, within bounds, in a manner, after a fashion, so to speak, almost, nearly, well-nigh, short of, not quite, all but, near upon, close upon, peu s'en faut, near the mark, within an ace of, within an inch of, on the brink of, scarcely, hardly, barely, only just, no more than, about, thereabouts, somewhere about, nearly, say, be the same, be little more or less, no ways, no way, no wise, not at all, not in the least, not a bit, not a bit of it, not a whit, not a jot, not a shadow, in no wise, in no respect, by no means, by no manner of means, on no account, at no hand, dare pondus idonea fumo, magno conatu magnas nugas, small sands the mountain, moments make the year.

Periodicity

N regularity of recurrence, periodicity, intermittence, beat, oscillation, pulse, pulsation, rhythm, alternation, alternateness, alternativeness, alternity, bout, round, revolution, rotation, turn, say, anniversary, jubilee, centenary, catamenia, courses, menses, menstrual flux, rota, cycle, period, stated time, routine, days of the week, Sunday, Monday, months of the year, January, feast, fast, Christmas, Easter, New Year's day, Allhallows, Allhallowmas, All Saints' Day, All Souls', All Souls' Day, Ash Wednesday, bicentennial, birthday, bissextile, Candlemas, Dewali, groundhog day, Halloween, Hallowmas, Lady day, leap year, Midsummer day, Muharram, woodchuck day, St. Swithin's day, natal day, yearbook, yuletide, punctuality, regularity, steadiness, periodic, periodical, serial, recurrent, cyclical, rhythmical, recurring, intermittent, remittent, alternate, every other, hourly, diurnal, daily, quotidian, tertian, weekly, hebdomadal, hebdomadary, biweekly, fortnightly, bimonthly, catamenial, monthly, menstrual, yearly, annual, biennial, triennial, centennial, secular, paschal, lenten, regular, steady, punctual, regular as clockwork, periodically, at regular intervals, at stated times, at fixed established, at established periods, punctually, de die in diem, from day to day, day by day, by turns, in turn, in rotation, alternately, every other day, off and on, ride and tie, round and round.

Affirmation

VB assert, make an assertion, have one's say, say, affirm, predicate, declare, state, protest, profess, put forth, put forward, advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend, depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear, make oath, take one's oath, make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit, take one's Bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero, swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue, be sworn, call Heaven to witness, vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle, swear by, insist upon, take one's stand upon, emphasize, lay stress on, assert roundly, assert positively, lay down, lay down the law, raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word, rap out, repeat, reassert, reaffirm, announce, acknowledge, attest, adjure.