Say — Defs

01 imp. Saw.

02 n. Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack.

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.]

Phrases & compounds

To give a say at — to attempt.

03 v. t. To try; to assay.

04 n. A kind of silk or satin.

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.

05 v. t. To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things.

imp. & p. p. Said; p. pr. & vb. n. 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.

Phrases & compounds

It is said — it is commonly reported; it is rumored; people assert or maintain.

That is to say — that is; in other words; otherwise.

06 v. i. To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.

1.
To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
“You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge.” — Shak.

“To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies?” — Milton.

07 n. A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb.

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.