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Contents
say definition
Overview
This page has 32 definitions of say with English translations in 8 languages. Say is a verb, noun, an adverb, interjection and adjective. Examples of how to use say in a sentence are shown. Also define these 0 related words and terms: .
English say definition
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle English seyen, seien, seggen, from Old English seċġan (“to say, speak”), from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to tell, talk”).
Cognate with West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Danish sige (“to say”), Norwegian Bokmål si (“to say”), Norwegian Nynorsk seia (“to say”), Swedish säga (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “to say; to tell”).
The adverb and interjection are from the verb.
Alternative forms
Verb
say (third-person singular simple present says, present participle saying, simple past and past participle said)
- (transitive) To pronounce.
- Please say your name slowly and clearly.
- (transitive) To recite.
- Martha, will you say the Pledge of Allegiance?
- 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, OCLC 4293071, pages 53-54:
- Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
- (transitive) To tell, either verbally or in writing.
- He said he would be here tomorrow.
- 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., OCLC 222716698, page 46:
- No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.
- 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest[1]:
- She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive.
- 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
- I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday. — It’s okay, Anna.
Audio (US) (file)
- I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday. — It’s okay, Anna.
- (transitive) To indicate in a written form.
- The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.
- (impersonal, transitive) To have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact.
- They say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", which means "behave as those around you do."
- 1815, George Gordon Byron, The Hebrew Melodies "They say that Hope is happiness"
- They say that Hope is happiness; But genuine Love must prize the past.
- 1819, Great Britain Court of Chancery, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the High Court of Chancery, page 8:
- It is said, a bargain cannot be set aside upon inadequacy only.
- 1841, Christopher Marshall, The Knickerbocker (New-York Monthly Magazine), page 379:
- It’s said that fifteen wagon loads of ready-made clothes for the Virginia troops came to, and stay in, town to-night.
- (informal, imperative, transitive) Suppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or hypothesis.
- A holiday somewhere warm – Florida, say – would be nice.
- Say he refuses. What do we do then?
- Say your family is starving and you don't have any money, is it okay to steal some food?
- 1984, Martin Amis, Money: a suicide note
- I've followed Selina down the strip, when we're shopping, say, and she strolls on ahead, wearing sawn-off jeans and a wash-withered T-shirt […]
- (intransitive) To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
- c. 1598–1600, William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene ii], page 195:
- You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge
- 1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [EIKONOKLASTES] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], OCLC 1044608640, page 63:
- To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies?
- (transitive, informal, of a possession, especially money) To bet as a wager on an outcome; by extension, used to express belief in an outcome by the speaker.
- 2005, Ian McEwan, Saturday, page 192:
- 'My fifty pounds says three months after the invasion there'll be a free press in Iraq, and unmonitored internet access too.'
Conjugation
Conjugation of say
| infinitive | (to) say | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | say | said | |
| 2nd-person singular | say, sayest† | said, saidst† | |
| 3rd-person singular | says, sayeth†, saith† | said | |
| plural | say | ||
| subjunctive | say | said | |
| imperative | say | — | |
| participles | saying | said | |
Synonyms
See also: Thesaurus:utter
Derived terms
Translations
to say — see tell
to pronounce
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to recite
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to communicate verbally or in writing
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to indicate in a written form
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to have a common expression
imperative: let's say
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Dictionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Noun
say (plural says)
- A chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision.
- 2004, Richard Rogers, Information politics on the Web:
- Above all, however, we would like to think that there is more to be decided, after the engines and after the humans have had their says.
- 2019 February 8, Olarn, Kocha; Regan, Helen, “This princess could be the next prime minister of Thailand”, in CNN International Edition[2], Cable News Network, retrieved 2019-02-08:
- He has consolidated the military's role in politics through an army-drafted 2017 constitution widely seen as designed to prevent Pheu Thai from returning to power and ensuring a continuing say for the army.
- 2019 March 22, Tanakasempipat, Patpicha; Thepgumpanat, Panarat, “Junta chief croons, ousted PM says 'we will win' in Thai election battle”, in Reuters[3], Reuters, retrieved 2019-03-23:
- Sunday’s general election has been cast as a high-stakes contest between democracy and military rule, but critics say a new army-backed constitution gives junta-appointed officials a large say in the next government.
Translations
chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
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Adverb
say (not comparable)
- For example; let us assume.
- 1894, Miller, T, “Chapter 1”, in Over Five Seas and Oceans, From New York to Bangkok, Siam, and Return, New York: Albert Metz & Co., page 13:
- He was a very old man, and was heavy, say about 250 pounds.
- Pick a color you think they'd like, say, peach.
- He was driving pretty fast, say, fifty miles per hour.
Translations
Translations
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Interjection
say
- (colloquial) Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion
- Say, what did you think about the movie?
Synonyms
- (used to gain attention): hey
References
- say in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
- say in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
Etymology 2
From Middle French saie, from Latin saga, plural of sagum (“military cloak”).
Noun
say (countable and uncountable, plural says)
- A type of fine cloth similar to serge.
- 1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “August. Aegloga Octaua.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], OCLC 606515406; republished as The Shepheardes Calender […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], 1586, OCLC 837880809, folio 32, recto:
- Per.[igot] VVell decked in a frocke of gray, / Will.[y] hey ho, gray is greet, / Per. And in a kirtle of greene ſaye, / Will. the greene is for maydens meete.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Qveene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for VVilliam Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938, book I, canto IV, page 53:
- All in a kirtle of diſcolourd ſay / He clothed was […]
Etymology 3
Aphetic form of assay.
Verb
say (third-person singular simple present says, present participle saying, simple past and past participle sayed)
- To try; to assay.
- 1600 (first performance), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Revels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Ben Jonson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, OCLC 960101342, Act IV, scene i:
- I, that had sayed on one of his customers sutes.
Noun
say (plural says)
- Trial by sample; assay; specimen.
- 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, OCLC 931154958, (please specify the page):, page 193
- If those principal works of God […] be but certain tastes and says, as if were, of that final benefit.
- c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act V, scene iii], page 308:
- Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes.
- Tried quality; temper; proof.
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Qveene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for VVilliam Ponsonby, OCLC 932900760, book VI, canto XI, stanza 47, page 505:
- He found a sword of better say.
- Essay; trial; attempt.
- 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, OCLC 1008120557; reprinted Menston, Yorkshire: The Scolar Press, 1970, OCLC 52009618, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
- This fellow, Captaine, Will come, in time, to be a great distiller, And giue a say […] at the philosophers stone.
Etymology 4
Noun
say (plural says)
Anagrams
Azerbaijani say definition
Etymology 1
Noun
say (definite accusative sayı, plural saylar)
- number, quantity, count
- (grammar) numeral
- (colloquial) value, importance
- issue (of a newspaper or periodical)
Etymology 2
From Proto-Turkic *say.
Noun
say (definite accusative sayı, plural saylar)
Declension
| Declension of say | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| singular | plural | |||||||
| nominative | say |
saylar | ||||||
| definite accusative | sayı |
sayları | ||||||
| dative | saya |
saylara | ||||||
| locative | sayda |
saylarda | ||||||
| ablative | saydan |
saylardan | ||||||
| definite genitive | sayın |
sayların | ||||||
| Possessive forms of say | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | ||||||||
| singular | plural | |||||||
| mənim (“my”) | sayım | saylarım | ||||||
| sənin (“your”) | sayın | sayların | ||||||
| onun (“his/her/its”) | sayı | sayları | ||||||
| bizim (“our”) | sayımız | saylarımız | ||||||
| sizin (“your”) | sayınız | saylarınız | ||||||
| onların (“their”) | sayı or sayları | sayları | ||||||
| accusative | ||||||||
| singular | plural | |||||||
| mənim (“my”) | sayımı | saylarımı | ||||||
| sənin (“your”) | sayını | saylarını | ||||||
| onun (“his/her/its”) | sayını | saylarını | ||||||
| bizim (“our”) | sayımızı | saylarımızı | ||||||
| sizin (“your”) | sayınızı | saylarınızı | ||||||
| onların (“their”) | sayını or saylarını | saylarını | ||||||
| dative | ||||||||
| singular | plural | |||||||
| mənim (“my”) | sayıma | saylarıma | ||||||
| sənin (“your”) | sayına | saylarına | ||||||
| onun (“his/her/its”) | sayına | saylarına | ||||||
| bizim (“our”) | sayımıza | saylarımıza | ||||||
| sizin (“your”) | sayınıza | saylarınıza | ||||||
| onların (“their”) | sayına or saylarına | saylarına | ||||||
| locative | ||||||||
| singular | plural | |||||||
| mənim (“my”) | sayımda | saylarımda | ||||||
| sənin (“your”) | sayında | saylarında | ||||||
| onun (“his/her/its”) | sayında | saylarında | ||||||
| bizim (“our”) | sayımızda | saylarımızda | ||||||
| sizin (“your”) | sayınızda | saylarınızda | ||||||
| onların (“their”) | sayında or saylarında | saylarında | ||||||
| ablative | ||||||||
| singular | plural | |||||||
| mənim (“my”) | sayımdan | saylarımdan | ||||||
| sənin (“your”) | sayından | saylarından | ||||||
| onun (“his/her/its”) | sayından | saylarından | ||||||
| bizim (“our”) | sayımızdan | saylarımızdan | ||||||
| sizin (“your”) | sayınızdan | saylarınızdan | ||||||
| onların (“their”) | sayından or saylarından | saylarından | ||||||
| genitive | ||||||||
| singular | plural | |||||||
| mənim (“my”) | sayımın | saylarımın | ||||||
| sənin (“your”) | sayının | saylarının | ||||||
| onun (“his/her/its”) | sayının | saylarının | ||||||
| bizim (“our”) | sayımızın | saylarımızın | ||||||
| sizin (“your”) | sayınızın | saylarınızın | ||||||
| onların (“their”) | sayının or saylarının | saylarının | ||||||
Crimean Tatar say definition
Noun
say
Declension
Declension of say
| nominative | say |
|---|---|
| genitive | saynıñ |
| dative | sayğa |
| accusative | saynı |
| locative | sayda |
| ablative | saydan |
References
- Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary][4], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN
Middle English say definition
Noun
say
- Alternative form of assay
Portuguese say definition
Verb
say
- Obsolete spelling of sai
Tatar say definition
Noun
say
Turkish say definition
Verb
say
Vietnamese say definition
Etymology
From Proto-Vietic *p-riː (“drunk”); cognate with Muong khay, Arem pərɪː.
Pronunciation
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [saj˧˧]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [ʂaj˧˧]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [ʂa(ː)j˧˧] ~ [sa(ː)j˧˧]
Adjective
say (𫑹)
- drunk; inebriated
- (by extension) suffering motion sickness
- say tàu ― suffering motion sickness from being on a train
- (figuratively) enamoured of; with a deep interest in
Derived terms
Derived terms
Adverb
say (𫑹)