say meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

say

verb

US /seɪ/ · UK /seɪ/

Etymology

From Middle English saien, sain, san, secgan, segen, seien, sein, seiȝen, sugen, sægen, ziggen, from Old English seċġan, secgean, secggan, secggean, seggan, sæċġan (“to say, speak”), from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to say”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian sai, seede, sii, sjide, sooi, säie (“to say”), West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Alemannic German ŝchége, ŝchegi, séege, säge, sägä (“to say”), Bavarian sogn, soon, sågn (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Low German seggen (“to say, tell”), Luxembourgish soen (“to say”), Vilamovian ziöen, zuön, zuø̄n (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “to say”), Danish sige (“to say”), Elfdalian saja (“to say”), Faroese siga (“to say”), Icelandic segja (“to say”), Jamtish segi (“to say”), Norwegian Bokmål si (“to say”), Norwegian Nynorsk segja, seia, seie (“to say, tell”), Scanian siğa (“to say”), Swedish säga (“to say”); also Cornish hwedhel (“narrative, story, tale”), Irish scéal (“story, tale”), Manx skeeal (“story; news; narrative”), Scottish Gaelic sgeul (“story, tale; information, news”), Welsh chwedl (“story, tale”), hebu (“to say”), Latin inquam (“to say”), Ancient Greek ἐνέπω (enépō), ἐννέπω (ennépō, “tell or tell about; speak”), Latvian sacīt (“to say, tell”), Lithuanian sakyti (“to say, tell”), Bulgarian соча (soča, “to indicate; to point”), Czech sočit (“to blame, hate”), Old Polish soczyć (“to accuse, slander”), Russian сочи́ть (sočítʹ, “to emit (a liquid)”), Ukrainian сочи́ти (sočýty, “to emit (a liquid), exude, ooze; to drain, sap”). The adverb and interjection are from the verb.

8 senses

1To pronounce.
2To recite.
3To tell, either verbally or in writing.
4To indicate in a written form.
5To have a common expression; used in singular passive…
6Suppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or…
7To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
8To bet as a wager on an outcome; by extension, used to…

1

To pronounce.

Please say your name slowly and clearly.

2

To recite.

Martha, will you say the Pledge of Allegiance?
Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, pages 53-54:

3

To tell, either verbally or in writing.

He said he would be here tomorrow.
No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 46:

3 more examples

She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive.1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
‘All right,’ said Jessamy. ‘I say, Miss Brindle said she’d think about you coming to see the house some time. I said I was sure you weren’t the stone throwing kind, not at windows, I mean.’1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 95:
I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday. — It’s okay, Anna.2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

4

To indicate in a written form.

The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.
What time does it say on the clock?

5

To have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact.

They say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", which means "behave as those around you do."
They say that Hope is happiness; But genuine Love must prize the past.1815, George Gordon Byron, “They say that Hope is happiness”, in The Hebrew Melodies:

2 more examples

It is said, a bargain cannot be set aside upon inadequacy only.1819, Great Britain Court of Chancery, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the High Court of Chancery, page 8:
It’s said that fifteen wagon loads of ready-made clothes for the Virginia troops came to, and stay in, town to-night.1841, Christopher Marshall, The Knickerbocker (New-York Monthly Magazine), page 379:

6

Imperative, Informal Suppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or hypothesis.

A holiday somewhere warm – Florida, say – would be nice.
Say he refuses. What do we do then?

2 more examples

Say your family is starving and you don't have any money, is it okay to steal some food?
I've followed Selina down the strip, when we're shopping, say, and she strolls on ahead, wearing sawn-off jeans and a wash-withered T-shirt[…]1984, Martin Amis, Money: a suicide note:

7

To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.

You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judgec. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 195:
To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies?1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC, page 63:

8

Business, Finance, Money Especially, Informal, Of a possession To bet as a wager on an outcome; by extension, used to express belief in an outcome by the speaker.

'My fifty pounds says three months after the invasion there'll be a free press in Iraq, and unmonitored internet access too.'2005, Ian McEwan, Saturday, page 192:

Synonyms: blather, dictate, gab, report, say, speak, state, tell, utter, verbalize, voice, yak
Antonyms: sign, signal, write
Derived terms: 169 terms
againsay, and so say all of us, as I was saying, as the saying goes, as they say, as who should say, before you can say Jack Robinson, before you can say knife, besay, can we say, daresay, dare-say, dare say, dare-saying, dessay, do as I say and not as I do, don't say gay, doomsaying, do you know what I'm saying, easy for you to say, endsay, enough said, final say, foresay, forsay, gainsay, go without saying, have a say, have to say for oneself, hear what I'm saying, how do you say … in English, how say you, how you say, I'd say, if I do say so myself, if I may say so, if I say so myself, if you don't mind me saying, if you say so, if you see something, say something, I hear you say, I'll say, I must say, I said what I said, I say, it doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right, it goes without saying, it is said, it's not what you say but how you say it, just saying, just say no, know what I'm saying, let's not and say we did, let's say, look-say, mean to say, missay, naysay, nay-say, naysayer, need I say more, needless to say, never-say-die, never say die, never say never, not saying much, not to say, or should I say, oversay, please say that again, resay, sad to say, said no one ever, said the thing, saith, say aah, sayability, sayable, say again, say boo, say boo to a goose, say bo to a goose, say cheese, sayee, sayer, sayeth, say goodbye, say grace, say hello, say hello to my little friend, saying, say it ain't so, say it all, say la vee, say less, say no, say no more, say none, say nothing, say one's piece, say one's prayers, say on pay, say-so, say someone's prayers, say that, say that again, say the quiet part loud, say the quiet part out loud, say the word, say to oneself, say uncle, say wallahi bro, say wha, say what, say what you like, say when, say word one, say yes, say you swear, shall I say, shall we say, soothsay, so they say, so to say, strange to say, sufficed to say, suffice it to say, suffice to say, that is to say, that's saying something, that's what he said, the deuce you say, the devil you say, the dickens you say, the hell you say, there is much to be said, there isn't any easy way to say this, they say, those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those doing it, though I say it who should not, though I say it who should not say it, though I say so myself, to say nothing of, to say the least, true say, undersay, unsay, whaddayasay, what can I say, what do you say, whatever you say, what say, what say you, what you saying, which is to say, withsay, wouldn't you say, yeasay, yea-say, yeasayer, you can say that again, you can't say fairer than that, you don't say, you hear what I'm saying, you know what I'm saying, you know what they say, you said a mouthful, you've said a mouthful, you were saying
Related terms: hearsay, say again
Hypernyms: communicate, express, talk
Hyponyms: 63 terms
add, affirm, allege, announce, answer, argue, assert, avow, chant, claim, complain, conjecture, convey, criticize, declare, decree, deliver, describe, disclose, divulge, drone, echo, enounce, estimate, exclaim, explain, guess, hiss, imply, indicate, inform, instruct, judge, maintain, mention, missay, orate, prescribe, profer, pronounce, question, quote, ramble, recite, rehearse, reiterate, relate, remark, render, repeat, reply, respond, restate, reveal, rumor, scoff, shout, signify, sing, specify, spiel, suggest, whisper

say

noun

Etymology

From Middle English saien, sain, san, secgan, segen, seien, sein, seiȝen, sugen, sægen, ziggen, from Old English seċġan, secgean, secggan, secggean, seggan, sæċġan (“to say, speak”), from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to say”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian sai, seede, sii, sjide, sooi, säie (“to say”), West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Alemannic German ŝchége, ŝchegi, séege, säge, sägä (“to say”), Bavarian sogn, soon, sågn (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Low German seggen (“to say, tell”), Luxembourgish soen (“to say”), Vilamovian ziöen, zuön, zuø̄n (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “to say”), Danish sige (“to say”), Elfdalian saja (“to say”), Faroese siga (“to say”), Icelandic segja (“to say”), Jamtish segi (“to say”), Norwegian Bokmål si (“to say”), Norwegian Nynorsk segja, seia, seie (“to say, tell”), Scanian siğa (“to say”), Swedish säga (“to say”); also Cornish hwedhel (“narrative, story, tale”), Irish scéal (“story, tale”), Manx skeeal (“story; news; narrative”), Scottish Gaelic sgeul (“story, tale; information, news”), Welsh chwedl (“story, tale”), hebu (“to say”), Latin inquam (“to say”), Ancient Greek ἐνέπω (enépō), ἐννέπω (ennépō, “tell or tell about; speak”), Latvian sacīt (“to say, tell”), Lithuanian sakyti (“to say, tell”), Bulgarian соча (soča, “to indicate; to point”), Czech sočit (“to blame, hate”), Old Polish soczyć (“to accuse, slander”), Russian сочи́ть (sočítʹ, “to emit (a liquid)”), Ukrainian сочи́ти (sočýty, “to emit (a liquid), exude, ooze; to drain, sap”). The adverb and interjection are from the verb.

1

A chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision.

To have a say
Above all, however, we would like to think that there is more to be decided, after the engines and after the humans have had their says.2004, Richard Rogers, Information politics on the Web:

2 more examples

He has consolidated the military's role in politics through an army-drafted 2017 constitution widely seen as designed to prevent Pheu Thai from returning to power and ensuring a continuing say for the army.2019 February 8, Kocha Olarn, Helen Regan, “This princess could be the next prime minister of Thailand”, in CNN International Edition, Cable News Network, retrieved 08 Feb 2019:
Sunday’s general election has been cast as a high-stakes contest between democracy and military rule, but critics say a new army-backed constitution gives junta-appointed officials a large say in the next government.2019 March 22, Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Panarat Thepgumpanat, “Junta chief croons, ousted PM says 'we will win' in Thai election battle”, in Reuters, Reuters, retrieved 23 Mar 2019:

say

adv

Etymology

From Middle English saien, sain, san, secgan, segen, seien, sein, seiȝen, sugen, sægen, ziggen, from Old English seċġan, secgean, secggan, secggean, seggan, sæċġan (“to say, speak”), from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to say”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian sai, seede, sii, sjide, sooi, säie (“to say”), West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Alemannic German ŝchége, ŝchegi, séege, säge, sägä (“to say”), Bavarian sogn, soon, sågn (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Low German seggen (“to say, tell”), Luxembourgish soen (“to say”), Vilamovian ziöen, zuön, zuø̄n (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “to say”), Danish sige (“to say”), Elfdalian saja (“to say”), Faroese siga (“to say”), Icelandic segja (“to say”), Jamtish segi (“to say”), Norwegian Bokmål si (“to say”), Norwegian Nynorsk segja, seia, seie (“to say, tell”), Scanian siğa (“to say”), Swedish säga (“to say”); also Cornish hwedhel (“narrative, story, tale”), Irish scéal (“story, tale”), Manx skeeal (“story; news; narrative”), Scottish Gaelic sgeul (“story, tale; information, news”), Welsh chwedl (“story, tale”), hebu (“to say”), Latin inquam (“to say”), Ancient Greek ἐνέπω (enépō), ἐννέπω (ennépō, “tell or tell about; speak”), Latvian sacīt (“to say, tell”), Lithuanian sakyti (“to say, tell”), Bulgarian соча (soča, “to indicate; to point”), Czech sočit (“to blame, hate”), Old Polish soczyć (“to accuse, slander”), Russian сочи́ть (sočítʹ, “to emit (a liquid)”), Ukrainian сочи́ти (sočýty, “to emit (a liquid), exude, ooze; to drain, sap”). The adverb and interjection are from the verb.

1

For example; let us assume.

Pick a color you think they'd like, say, peach.
He was driving pretty fast, say, fifty miles per hour.

1 more example

He was a very old man, and was heavy, say about 250 pounds.1894, T Miller, “Chapter 1”, in Over Five Seas and Oceans, From New York to Bangkok, Siam, and Return, New York: Albert Metz & Co., page 13:

say

intj

Etymology

From Middle English saien, sain, san, secgan, segen, seien, sein, seiȝen, sugen, sægen, ziggen, from Old English seċġan, secgean, secggan, secggean, seggan, sæċġan (“to say, speak”), from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to say”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian sai, seede, sii, sjide, sooi, säie (“to say”), West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Alemannic German ŝchége, ŝchegi, séege, säge, sägä (“to say”), Bavarian sogn, soon, sågn (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Low German seggen (“to say, tell”), Luxembourgish soen (“to say”), Vilamovian ziöen, zuön, zuø̄n (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “to say”), Danish sige (“to say”), Elfdalian saja (“to say”), Faroese siga (“to say”), Icelandic segja (“to say”), Jamtish segi (“to say”), Norwegian Bokmål si (“to say”), Norwegian Nynorsk segja, seia, seie (“to say, tell”), Scanian siğa (“to say”), Swedish säga (“to say”); also Cornish hwedhel (“narrative, story, tale”), Irish scéal (“story, tale”), Manx skeeal (“story; news; narrative”), Scottish Gaelic sgeul (“story, tale; information, news”), Welsh chwedl (“story, tale”), hebu (“to say”), Latin inquam (“to say”), Ancient Greek ἐνέπω (enépō), ἐννέπω (ennépō, “tell or tell about; speak”), Latvian sacīt (“to say, tell”), Lithuanian sakyti (“to say, tell”), Bulgarian соча (soča, “to indicate; to point”), Czech sočit (“to blame, hate”), Old Polish soczyć (“to accuse, slander”), Russian сочи́ть (sočítʹ, “to emit (a liquid)”), Ukrainian сочи́ти (sočýty, “to emit (a liquid), exude, ooze; to drain, sap”). The adverb and interjection are from the verb.

1

US, Colloquial Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion

Say, what did you think about the movie?

Synonyms: hey

say

noun

Etymology From Middle French saie, from Latin saga, plural of sagum (“military cloak”).

1

A type of fine cloth similar to serge.

Per.[igot] VVell decked in a frocke of gray, / Will.[y] hey ho, gray is greet, / Per. And in a kirtle of greene ſaye, / Will. the greene is for maydens meete.1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “August. Ægloga Octaua.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], →OCLC, folio 32, recto:
All in a kirtle of diſcolourd ſay / He clothed was […]1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 53:

say

verb

Etymology Aphetic form of assay.

1

To try; to assay.

I, that had sayed on one of his customers sutes.1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i:

say

noun

Etymology Aphetic form of assay.

1

Trial by sample; assay; specimen.

If those principal works of God […] be but certain tastes and says, as if were, of that final benefit., page 193
Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes.c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 308:

2

Tried quality; temper; proof.

He found a sword of better say.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 47, page 505:

3

Essay; trial; attempt.

This fellow, Captaine, Will come, in time, to be a great distiller, And giue a say[…]at the philosophers stone.1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, (please specify the Internet Archive page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

Derived terms: saymaster

say

noun

1

Scotland A strainer for milk.

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