say

say [sā]

vt.

SAID, saying; 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., says, said [sez] [ME seien (< orig. 3d pers. sing., pres. indic.), seggen < OE secgan, akin to sagu, a saying, tale (ON saga), Ger sagen, to say < IE base * sekw-, to note, see, show, say (> SEE¹, L inseque (imper.), tell!), orig., to follow > L sequi]

1. to utter, pronounce, or speak

2. to express in words; state; declare; tell

3. to state positively, with assurance, or as an opinion [who can say what will be?]

4. to indicate or show [the clock says ten]

5. to recite; repeat [to say one's prayers]

6. to estimate; assume; hypothesize [he is, I'd say, forty]

7. to allege; report [people say he's angry]

8. to communicate (an idea, feeling, etc.) [a painting that says nothing]

vi.

to make a statement; speak; express an opinion

n.

1. a chance to speak [to have one's say]

2. power or authority, as to make or help make a final decision: often with the

3. Archaic what a person says; dictum

adv.

1. for example [any fish, say perch]

2. about; nearly [costing, say, 10 dollars]

interj.

used to express surprise, admiration, etc., or to get someone's attention

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go without saying

to be too obvious to need explanation; be self-evident

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that is to say

in other words; that means

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to say the least

to understate

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you can say that again!

Informal I agree with you!

sayer

n.