say

say
{{11}}say (n.) "what someone says," 1570s, from SAY (Cf. say) (v.). Extended form say-so is first recorded 1630s.
{{12}}say (v.) O.E. secgan "to utter, say," from P.Gmc. *sagjanan (Cf. O.S. seggian, O.N. segja, O.Fris. sedsa, M.Du. segghen, Du. zeggen, O.H.G. sagen, Ger. sagen "to say"), from PIE *sokei-, probably from root *seq- "point out" (Cf. Hitt. shakiya- "to declare," Lith. sakyti "to say," O.C.S. sociti "to vindicate, show," O.Ir. insce "speech," O.Latin inseque "to tell say").
Past tense said developed from O.E. segde. Not attested in use with inanimate objects (clocks, signs, etc.) as subjects before 1930. You said it "you're right" first recorded 1919; you can say that again as a phrase expressing agreement is recorded from 1942, Amer.Eng. You don't say (so) as an expression of astonishment (often ironic) is first recorded 1779, Amer.Eng.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • SAY (J.-B.) — On reconnaît aujourd’hui en Say l’un des promoteurs de la pensée libérale. Les questions qu’il a posées, encore discutées dans tous les pays, comme sa fameuse «loi des débouchés », dépassent le cadre de l’histoire des idées économiques. D’autres… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • say — [sā] vt. SAID, saying; 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., says, said [sez] [ME seien (< orig. 3d pers. sing., pres. indic.), seggen < OE secgan, akin to sagu, a saying, tale (ON saga), Ger sagen, to say < IE base * sekw , to note, see, show,… …   English World dictionary

  • Say — is to communicate orally. It can also refer to: * Say (song), by John Mayer from the film The Bucket List * Say (Ryan Cabrera song), by Ryan Cabrera from the album The Moon Under Water *Say, Niger *Say (software), a Macintosh command line program …   Wikipedia

  • Say — Say, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Said} (s[e^]d), contracted from sayed; p. pr. & vb. n. {Saying}.] [OE. seggen, seyen, siggen, sayen, sayn, AS. secgan; akin to OS. seggian, D. zeggen, LG. seggen, OHG. sag[=e]n, G. sagen, Icel. segja, Sw. s[ a]ga, Dan.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • say — vb Say, utter, tell, state are comparable when they mean to put into words. Say often means merely to articulate or pronounce {say the words after me} {the baby has not yet learned to say mama or daddy } or is used in reporting something voiced… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • say — ► VERB (says; past and past part. said) 1) utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, an instruction, etc. 2) (of a text or symbol) convey information or instructions. 3) (of a clock or watch) indicate (a time). 4) (be said) be asserted …   English terms dictionary

  • Say — bezeichnet folgende Orte: ein Departement in Niger, siehe Say (Departement) eine Stadt in Niger, siehe Say (Niger) Say ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Fazil Say (* 1970), türkischer Pianist und Komponist Jean Baptiste Say (1767–1832),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • say — 1. In ordinary use say occurs as a noun only in the expression have a say (or variants of it such as have a bigger say). 2. The use of say as an imperative in uses such as • Let s meet soon say next Friday is an established idiom. 3. The… …   Modern English usage

  • Say OK — «Say Ok» Sencillo de Vanessa Hudgens del álbum V Género(s) Bubblegum pop Duración 3:41 (Versión Álbum) Discográfica Hollywood Records …   Wikipedia Español

  • Say — (s[=a]), n. [Aphetic form of assay.] 1. Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] If those principal works of God . . . be but certain tastes and says, as it were, of that final benefit. Hooker. [1913 Webster] Thy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Say — Say, n. [From {Say}, v. t.; cf. {Saw} a saying.] A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb. [Archaic or Colloq.] [1913 Webster] He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning snap. L Estrange.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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