Say \say\, n. [From say, v. t.; cf. saw, a saying.]

1. 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

2. The chance to speak; "let him have his say"

Say \say\, v. i

Say \say\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Said (sêd), 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. säga, 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
5. Report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money" [syn: allege, aver]
6. Have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What does the law say?" [syn: read]
7. State as one's opinion or judgement; declare; "I say let's forget this whole business"
8. Utter aloud; "She said 'Hello' to everyone in the office"
9. Tell somebody to do something; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping" [syn: order, tell, enjoin]
10. Speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; "I cannot say 'zip wire'" [syn: pronounce, articulate, enounce, enunciate]
11. Recite or repeat a fixed text; "Say grace"; "She said her 'Hail Mary'"
12. Communicate or express nonverbally; "What does this painting say?" "Did his face say anything about how he felt?"
13. Indicate; "The clock says noon"

Say \say\, n. [OE. saie, F. saie, fr. L. saga, equiv. to sagum, sagus, a coarse woolen mantle; cf. Gr. sa`gos.]

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

Say \say\, v. t

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

Say \say\ (s[=a]), obs. imp. of See