j say

< /ʒɑ̃ baˈtist/, 1767–1832, French economist.Compare Say’s law.

Thomas,1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.

verb says (sɛz), saying or said (mainly tr)

1. to speak, pronounce, or utter
2. (also intr) to express (an idea) in words; tellwe asked his opinion but he refused to say
3. (also intr; may take a clause as object) to state (an opinion, fact, etc) positively; declare; affirm
4. to reciteto say grace
5. (may take a clause as object) to report or allegethey say we shall have rain today
6. (may take a clause as object) to take as an assumption; supposelet us say that he is lying
7. (may take a clause as object) to convey by means of artistic expressionthe artist in this painting is saying that we should look for hope
8. to make a case forthere is much to be said for either course of action
9. (usually passive) Irish to persuade or coax (someone) to do somethingIf I hadn’t been said by her, I wouldn’t be in this fix
10. go without saying to be so obvious as to need no explanation
11. I say! mainly British informal an exclamation of surprise
12. not to say even; and indeed
13. that is to say in other words; more explicitly
14. to say nothing of as well as; even disregardinghe was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of a thick overcoat
15. to say the least without the slightest exaggeration; at the very least

adverb

16. approximatelythere were, say, 20 people present
17. for examplechoose a number, say, four

noun

18. the right or chance to speaklet him have his say
19. authority, esp to influence a decisionhe has a lot of say in the company’s policy
20. a statement of opinionyou’ve had your say, now let me have mine

interjection

21. US and Canadian informal an exclamation to attract attention or express surprise, etc

noun

1. archaic a type of fine woollen fabric

v.

Old English secgan “to utter, inform, speak, tell, relate,” from Proto-Germanic *sagjanan (cf. Old Saxon seggian, Old Norse segja, Danish sige, Old Frisian sedsa, Middle Dutch segghen, Dutch zeggen, Old High German sagen, German sagen “to say”), from PIE *sokwyo-, from root *sekw- (3) “to say, utter” (cf. Hittite shakiya- “to declare,” Lithuanian sakyti “to say,” Old Church Slavonic sociti “to vindicate, show,” Old Irish insce “speech,” Old Latin inseque “to tell say”).

Past tense said developed from Old English 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, American English. You don’t say (so) as an expression of astonishment (often ironic) is first recorded 1779, American English.

n.

“what someone says,” 1570s, from say (v.). Meaning “right or authority to influence a decision” is from 1610s. Extended form say-so is first recorded 1630s. Cf. Old English secge “speech.”

In addition to the idioms beginning with say

• say a mouthful
• say grace
• say one’s piece
• says who?
• say the word
• say uncle

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 undersaid.