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Share This say 1 Audio Help / seɪ / Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation [ sey ] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, said, say·ing, adverb, noun, interjection –verb (used with object) 1. to utter or pronounce; speak: What did you say? I said “Hello!”
2. to express in words; state; declare; word: Say it clearly and simply. It's hard to know how to say this tactfully.
3. to state as an opinion or judgment: I say her plan is the better one.
4. to be certain, precise, or assured about; determine: It is hard to say what is wrong.
5. to recite or repeat: to say one's prayers.
6. to report or allege; maintain: People say he will resign.
7. to express (a message, viewpoint, etc.), as through a literary or other artistic medium: a writer with something to say.
8. to indicate or show: What does your watch say?
9. to assume as a hypothesis or estimate: Let's say, for the sake of argument, that it's true.
–verb (used without object) 10. to speak; declare; express an opinion.
–adverb 11. approximately; about: It's, say, 14 feet long.
12. for example: If you serve, say tuna fish and potato chips, it will cost much less.
–noun 13. what a person says or has to say.
14. the right or opportunity to speak, decide, or exercise influence: to have one's say in choosing the candidate.
15. a turn to say something: It is now my say.
–interjection 16. (used to express surprise, get attention, etc.)
—Idiom 17. that is to say, that is what is meant; in other words: I believe his account of the story, that is to say, I have no reason to doubt it.
[Origin:
bef. 900; ME
seyen, seggen, OE
secgan; c. D
zeggen, G
sagen, ON
segja; akin to
saw 3 ]
—Related forms sayer, noun
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. say To learn more about
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -
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Share This Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -
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Share This Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
American Heritage Dictionary -
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said (sěd), say·ing , says (sěz)
tr.
To utter aloud; pronounce: The children said, "Good morning."
To express in words: Say what's on your mind.
To state as one's opinion or judgment; declare: I say let's eat out.
To state as a determination of fact: It's hard to say who is right in this matter.
To indicate; show: The clock says half past two.
To give nonverbal expression to; signify or embody: It was an act that said "devotion."
To repeat or recite: said grace.
To report or maintain; allege.
To indicate; show: The clock says half past two.
To give nonverbal expression to; signify or embody: It was an act that said "devotion."
To suppose; assume: Let's say that you're right.
intr.
The story must be true because the teacher said so.
A turn or chance to speak: Having had my say, I sat down.
The right or power to influence or make a decision: Citizens have a say in the councils of government. All I want is some say in the matter.
Archaic Something said; a statement.Approximately: There were, say, 500 people present.
For instance: a woodwind, say an oboe.
seien , from Old English secgan ; see sekw - 3 in Indo-European roots.]
say'er n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Online Etymology Dictionary -
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Share This say (v.)
O.E. secgan "to utter, say," from P.Gmc. *sagjanan (cf. O.S. seggian, O.N. segja, O.Fris. sedsa, M.Du. segghen, Du. zeggen, O.H.G. sagen, Ger. sagen "to say"), from PIE *sokei-, probably from base *seq- "point out" (cf. Hitt. shakiya- "to declare," Lith. sakyti "to say," O.C.S. sociti "to vindicate, show," O.Ir. insce "speech," O.Latin inseque "to tell say"). Past tense said developed from O.E. segde. Not attested in use with inanimate objects (clocks, signs, etc.) as subjects before 1930. You said it "you're right" first recorded 1919; you can say that again as a phrase expressing agreement is recorded from 1942, Amer.Eng. You don't say (so) as an expression of astonishment (often ironic) is first recorded 1779, Amer.Eng.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Share This say (n.)
"what someone says," 1571, from
say (v.). Extended form
say-so is first recorded 1637.
Saying "utterance, recitation, act of the verb 'say' " is recorded from c.1300; meaning "something that has been said" (usually by someone thought important) is from c.1303; sense of "a proverb" is first attested c.1450.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet -
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Share This say noun 1. the chance to speak; "let him have his say" verb 1. express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name" [syn: state ] 2. report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money" [syn: allege ] 3. express a supposition; "Let us say that he did not tell the truth"; "Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?" [syn: suppose ] 4. have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What does the law say?" [syn: read ] 5. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed" [syn: order ] 6. speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; "She pronounces French words in a funny way"; "I cannot say 'zip wire'"; "Can the child sound out this complicated word?" [syn: pronounce ] 7. communicate or express nonverbally; "What does this painting say?"; "Did his face say anything about how he felt?" 8. utter aloud; "She said 'Hello' to everyone in the office" 9. state as one's opinion or judgement; declare; "I say let's forget this whole business" 10. recite or repeat a fixed text; "Say grace"; "She said her 'Hail Mary'" 11. indicate; "The clock says noon"
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms -
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In addition to the idioms beginning with say , also see before you can say Jack Robinson ; cry (say) uncle ; do as I say ; give (say) the word ; go without (saying) ; have a say in ; I dare say ; I'll say ; needless to say ; never say die ; never say never ; not to mention (say nothing of) ; on one's say-so ; strange to say ; suffice it to say ; that is (to say) ; to say the least ; you can say that again ; you don't say . Also see under said .
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary -
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Share This say 1 [sei] verb —
3rd person singular present tense says [sez] ;
past tense, past participle said [sed]
to speak or utter
Example:
What did you say?; She said `Yes'.
Arabic: يَقول Chinese (Simplified): 说 Chinese (Traditional): 說 Czech: říci Danish: sige Dutch: zeggen Estonian: ütlema French: dire German: sagen Greek: λέω, εκστομίζω Hungarian: mond; szól Icelandic: segja Indonesian: mengatakan Italian: dire
Japanese: 言う Korean: …이라고 말하다 Latvian: sacīt; teikt Lithuanian: sakyti Norwegian: si, erklære, uttrykke Polish: mówić Portuguese (Brazil): dizer Russian: сказать, говорить Slovak: povedať Slovenian: reči Spanish: decir Swedish: säga Turkish: söylemek, demek
say 2 [sei] verb
to tell, state or declare
Example:
She said how she had enjoyed meeting me; She is said to be very beautiful.
Arabic: يُخْبِر، يُعْلِن، يُصَرِّح Chinese (Simplified): 表明，宣称 Chinese (Traditional): 表明，宣稱 Czech: prohlásit, říkat Danish: sige; siges Dutch: zeggen Estonian: rääkima French: dire German: sagen Greek: λέω, δηλώνω Hungarian: kijelent Icelandic: segja Indonesian: menyatakan Italian: dire
Japanese: 述べる Korean: 언명하다 Latvian: teikt Lithuanian: (pa)sakyti Norwegian: si, uttale; sies Polish: powiedzieć Portuguese (Brazil): dizer Portuguese (Portugal): dizer Russian: говорить, утверждать Slovak: prehlásiť, povedať Slovenian: reči Spanish: decir Swedish: säga, tala om Turkish: söylemek, belirtmek
say 3 [sei] verb
to repeat
Example:
The child says her prayers every night.
Arabic: يُرَدِّد Chinese (Simplified): 背诵 Chinese (Traditional): 背誦 Czech: odříkat Danish: sige Dutch: opzeggen Estonian: kordama French: dire German: aufsagen Greek: λέω, επαναλαμβάνω Hungarian: (el)mond Icelandic: segja, fara með Indonesian: mengucapkan Italian: dire
Japanese: 唱える Korean: 복창하다, 암송하다 Latvian: atkārtot; skaitīt lūgšanu Lithuanian: kalbėti, kartoti Norwegian: si fram, be Polish: powtarzać Portuguese (Brazil): dizer Portuguese (Portugal): dizer Russian: повторять, читать Slovak: odriekať Slovenian: ponavljati Spanish: decir Swedish: läsa, be Turkish: tekrarlamak
say 4 [sei] verb
to guess or estimate
Example:
I can't say when he'll return.
Arabic: يَعْرِف، يُقَدِّر، يُخَمِّن Chinese (Simplified): 发表意见 Chinese (Traditional): 發表意見 Czech: říci Danish: sige Dutch: zeggen Estonian: arvama French: dire German: sagen Greek: προβλέπω, υπολογίζω Hungarian: kitalál Icelandic: segja til um Indonesian: menduga Italian: dire
Japanese: わかる Korean: 추측하다 Latvian: pateikt; noteikt Lithuanian: pasakyti Norwegian: si, anslå, tippe Polish: zgadnąć, ocenić, powiedzieć Portuguese (Brazil): dizer Portuguese (Portugal): dizer Russian: предполагать Slovak: povedať Slovenian: reči Spanish: decir Swedish: säga, avgöra, uppskatta Turkish: söylemek
say [sei] noun
the right or opportunity to state one's opinion
Example:
I haven't had my say yet; We have no say in the decision.
Arabic: قَوْل، كَلِمَه، رأْي Chinese (Simplified): 意见 Chinese (Traditional): 意見 Czech: příležitost promluvit Danish: have noget at sige Dutch: zegje, zeggenschap Estonian: sõnaõigus, sõnavõtt Finnish: sananvalta, sanottava French: (avoir) droit au chapitre German: das Mitspracherecht Greek: δικαίωμα λόγου Hungarian: beleszólás Icelandic: það að hafa rétt, *tækifæri til að segja skoðun sína Indonesian: hak menyatakan Italian: (diritto di parlare), (voce in capitolo)
Japanese: 発言(権) Korean: 발언권, 발언할 기회 Latvian: sakāmais; vārds Lithuanian: teisė, *galimybė pareikšti nuomonę Norwegian: ha noe å si; si sin mening Polish: wypowiedzenie się Portuguese (Brazil): vez de falar, direito de voz Portuguese (Portugal): direito a pronunciar-se Romanian: (a avea) drept de opinie Russian: мнение, слово Slovak: príležitosť prehovoriť Slovenian: beseda Spanish: opinión, voz y voto Swedish: mening, säga till om Turkish: söz fırsatı, *hakkı
(let's) say
roughly; approximately; about
Example:
You'll arrive there in, (let's) say, three hours.
Arabic: تَقْريبا، حَوالي Chinese (Simplified): 大约，比如说 Chinese (Traditional): 大約，比如說 Czech: řekněme Danish: lad os sige; skal vi sige Dutch: ongeveer Estonian: umbes Finnish: suunnilleen French: disons German: sagen wir Greek: περίπου, ας πούμε Hungarian: mondjuk Icelandic: (svona) nokkurn veginn, um það bil
Italian: (diciamo) Japanese: だいたい Latvian: sacīsim; teiksim; apmēram Lithuanian: tarkim Norwegian: skal vi si, omtrent Polish: powiedzmy Portuguese (Portugal): vamos dizer Romanian: să zicem Russian: приблизительно, около Slovak: povedzme Slovenian: recimo Spanish: digamos Turkish: diyelim ki
See also: saying ,
have ,
I wouldn't say no to ,
say the word ,
that is to say
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing -
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Share This say newline -terminated command (a "sentence").mundanes .The Jargon File ]
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -
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Fore*say"\, v. t. [AS. foresecgan; fore + secgan to say. See
Say , v. t.] To foretell. [Obs.]
Her danger nigh that sudden change foresaid. --Fairfax.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Gain`say"\ (? or ?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Gainsaid (? or ?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Gainsaying .] [OE. geinseien, ageinseien. See
Again , and
Say to utter.] To contradict; to deny; to controvert; to dispute; to forbid.
I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. --Luke xxi. 15.
The just gods gainsay That any drop thou borrow'dst from thy mother, My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword Be drained. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Sa"ga\ (s[=a]"g[.a]), n.; pl.
Sagas (-g[.a]z). [Icel., akin to E. saw a saying. See
Say , and cf.
Saw .] A Scandinavian legend, or heroic or mythic tradition, among the Norsemen and kindred people; a northern European popular historical or religious tale of olden time.
And then the blue-eyed Norseman told A saga of the days of old. --Longfellow.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Sa"gum\, n.; pl.
Saga . [L. sagum, sagus; cf. Gr. ?. Cf.
Say a kind of serge.] (Rom. Antiq.) The military cloak of the Roman soldiers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Said\, imp. & p. p. of
Say .
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Sain\, obs. p. p. of
Say , for sayen. Said. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Saith\, 3d pers. sing. pres. of
Say . [Archaic]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Audio Help [sey] Pronunciation Key verb, said, say·ing, adverb, noun, interjection 
