say

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the chance to speak

   Let me have my say!

2. 2
   verb

   express a supposition

   Let us say that they did not tell the truth.

3. 3
   verb

   indicate

   The clock says noon

4. 4
   verb

   communicate or express nonverbally

   What does this painting say?

5. 5
   verb

   To pronounce.

   Please say your name slowly and clearly.

6. 6
   verb

   To recite.

   Martha, will you say the Pledge of Allegiance?

7. 7
   verb

   To tell, either verbally or in writing.

   He said he would be here tomorrow.

8. 8
   verb

   To indicate in a written form.

   The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.

Etymology

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 say”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian sai, seede, sii, sjide, sooi, säie (“to say”), West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Alemannic German ŝchége, ŝchegi, séege, säge, sägä (“to say”), Bavarian sogn, soon, sågn (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Low German seggen (“to say, tell”), Luxembourgish soen (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “…