n.
Pronunciation: ' s ā , Southern also ' se
Function: verb
Inflected Form: said \ ' sed, esp when subject follows s ə d \ ; say · ing \ ' s ā -i ŋ \ ; says \ ' sez, sometimes ' s ā z, esp when subject follows s ə z \
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English secgan; akin to Old High German sag ē n to say, Lithuanian sakyti, Greek en nepein to speak, tell
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 a : to express in words : STATE b : to state as opinion or belief : DECLARE
2 a : UTTER , PRONOUNCE b : RECITE , REPEAT < say your prayers>
3 a : INDICATE , SHOW <the clock say s five minutes after twelve> b : to give expression to : COMMUNICATE <a glance that said all that was necessary>
4 : SUPPOSE , ASSUME <let's say you're right>
intransitive verb : to express oneself : SPEAK
– say · er \ ' s ā - ə r, ' ser \ noun
– say uncle : to admit defeat
– that is to say : in other words : in effect
– to say nothing of : not to mention : and notably in addition <will need more time, to say nothing of money>