Say \Say\ (s[=a]), n. [Aphetic form of assay.]
1. Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack. [Obs.]
If those principal works of God . . . be but certain
tastes and says, as it were, of that final benefit.
--Hooker.
Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes. --Shak.
2. Tried quality; temper; proof. [Obs.]
He found a sword of better say. --Spenser.
3. Essay; trial; attempt. [Obs.]
To give a say at, to attempt. --B. Jonson.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Say \Say\, n. [OE. saie, F. saie, fr. L. saga, equiv. to sagum,
sagus, a coarse woolen mantle; cf. Gr. sa`gos. See Sagum.]
1. A kind of silk or satin. [Obs.]
Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord!
--Shak.
2. A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth. [Obs.]
His garment neither was of silk nor say. --Spenser.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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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. sige, Lith. sakyti; cf. OL. insece tell, relate, Gr.
'e`nnepe (for 'en-sepe), 'e`spete. Cf. Saga, Saw a
saying.]
1. To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to
declare; as, he said many wise things.
Arise, and say how thou camest here. --Shak.
2. To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to
say a lesson.
Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated In what
thou hadst to say? --Shak.
After which shall be said or sung the following
hymn. --Bk. of Com.
Prayer.
3. To announce as a decision or opinion; to state positively;
to assert; hence, to form an opinion upon; to be sure
about; to be determined in mind as to.
But what it is, hard is to say. --Milton.
4. To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or
approximation; hence, to suppose; -- in the imperative,
followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say
fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles.
Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double, Is
twenty hundred kisses such a trouble? --Shak.
It is said, or They say, it is commonly reported; it is
rumored; people assert or maintain.
That is to say, that is; in other words; otherwise.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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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.]
He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning
snap. --L'Estrange.
That strange palmer's boding say, That fell so ominous
and drear Full on the object of his fear. --Sir W.
Scott.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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