GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 7 definitions

1.       
   Say (sā), obs. imp. of See. Saw. Chaucer.
   
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2.       
   Say (sā), n. [Aphetic form of assay.]
   1. Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack. [Obs.]
   
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   If those principal works of God . . . be but certain tastes and says, as it were, of that final benefit. Hooker.
   
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   Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes. Shak.
   
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   2. Tried quality; temper; proof. [Obs.]
   
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   He found a sword of better say. Spenser.
   
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   3. Essay; trial; attempt. [Obs.]
   
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   To give a say at, to attempt. B. Jonson.
   
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3.       
   Say, v. t. To try; to assay. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
   
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4.       
   Say, n. [OE. saie, F. saie, fr. L. saga, equiv. to sagum, sagus, a coarse woolen mantle; cf. Gr. σάγος. See Sagum.]
   1. A kind of silk or satin. [Obs.]
   
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   Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! Shak.
   
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   2. A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth. [Obs.]
   
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   His garment neither was of silk nor say. Spenser.
   
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5.       
   Say, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Said (sĕd), contracted from sayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Saying.] [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. ἔννεπε (for ἐν-σεπε), ἔσπετε. Cf. Saga, Saw a saying.]
   1. To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, “he said many wise things”.
   
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   Arise, and say how thou camest here. Shak.
   
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   2. To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, “to say a lesson”.
   
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   Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
   
   In what thou hadst to say? Shak.
   
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   After which shall be said or sung the following hymn. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
   
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   3. 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.
   
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   But what it is, hard is to say. Milton.
   
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   4. 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”.
   
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   Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double,
   
   Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble? Shak.
   
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   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.
   
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6.       
   Say, v. i. To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
   
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   You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge. Shak.
   
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   To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies? Milton.
   
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7.       
   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. [Archaic or Colloq.]
   
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   He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning snap. L'Estrange.
   
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   That strange palmer's boding say,
   
   That fell so ominous and drear
   
   Full on the object of his fear. Sir W. Scott.
   
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