SAY


Meaning of SAY in English

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>

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.