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say

(sā)

v. said (sĕd), say·ing, says (sĕz)

v.tr.

1. To utter aloud; pronounce: The children said, "Good morning."

2. To express in words: Say what's on your mind.

a. To state as an opinion or judgment; declare: I say let's eat out.

b. To state as a determination of fact: It's hard to say who is right in this matter.

c. To report or maintain; allege: It is said he is a fraud.

4. To repeat or recite: said grace.

a. To indicate; show: The clock says half past two.

b. To give nonverbal expression to; signify or embody: It was an act that said "devotion."

6. To suppose; assume: Let's say that you're right.

v.intr.

To make a statement or express an opinion or judgment: The story must be true because the teacher said so.

1. A turn or chance to speak: Having had my say, I sat down.

2. 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.

3. Archaic Something said; a statement.

adv.

1. Approximately: There were, say, 500 people present.

2. For instance: a woodwind, say an oboe.

interj.

Used to express surprise or appeal for someone's attention.

Idioms:

I say

1. Used preceding an utterance to call attention to it: I say, do you have the time?

2. Used as an exclamation of surprise, delight, or dismay.

that is to say

In other words.

to say nothing of

And there is no need to mention. Used to allude to things that fill out an idea or argument: The yard is a mess, to say nothing of the house.

you can say that again Slang

Used to express strong agreement with what has just been said.

[Middle English seien, from Old English secgan; see sek^w-³ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

sayer n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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