say

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say / sā/ • v. (says / sez/ ; past and past part. said / sed/ ) 1. utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction: [with direct speech] “Thank you,” he said. ∎  (of a text or a symbolic representation) convey specified information or instructions: the law says such behavior is an offense. ∎  [tr.] enable a listener or reader to learn or understand something by conveying or revealing (information or ideas): I don't want to say too much. ∎  [tr.] (of a clock or watch) indicate (a specified time): the clock says ten past two. ∎  (be said) be asserted or reported (often used to avoid committing the speaker or writer to the truth of the assertion): they were said to be training freedom fighters. ∎  [tr.] (say something for) present a consideration in favor of or excusing (someone or something): all I can say for him is that he's a better writer than some. ∎  [tr.] utter the whole of (a speech or other set of words, typically one learned in advance): we say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. 2. assume something in order to work out what its consequences would be; make a hypothesis: let's say we pay five thousand dollars in the first year. ∎  used parenthetically to indicate that something is being suggested as possible or likely but not certain: the form might include, say, a dozen questions. • n. an opportunity for stating one's opinion or feelings: the voters are entitled to have their say on the treaty. ∎  an opportunity to influence developments and policy: the assessor will have a say in how the money is spent. PHRASES: go without saying be obvious: it goes without saying that teachers must be selected with care. have something to say for oneself contribute to a conversation or discussion, esp. as an explanation for one's behavior or actions: haven't you anything to say for yourself? I'll say inf. used to express emphatic agreement: “That was a good landing.” “I'll say!” I must (or have to) say I cannot refrain from saying (used to emphasize an opinion): you have a nerve, I must say! not to say used to introduce a stronger alternative or addition to something already said: it is easy to become sensitive, not to say paranoid. say no more inf. used to indicate that one understands what someone is trying to imply. say when inf. said when helping someone to food or drink to instruct them to indicate when they have enough. say the word give permission or instructions to do something. what do (or would) you say used to make a suggestion or offer: what do you say to a glass of wine? when all is said and done when everything is taken into account (used to indicate that one is making a generalized judgment about a situation. you can say that again! inf. used in spoken English to express emphatic agreement. you don't say! inf. used to express amazement or disbelief.DERIVATIVES: say·a·ble adj. say·er n. [usu. in comb.] naysayers. ORIGIN: Old English secgan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeggen and German sagen.

say1 pt. and pp. said. OE. seċġan = OS. seggian (Du. zeggen). OHG. sagēn (G. sagen), ON. segja :- Gmc. *saʒjan and *saʒæjan; the IE. base *soq- *seq- is repr. also by OSl. sočiti, Lith. sakýti, OL. (imper.) insece, inquam (:- *insquam) I say, Gr. (imper.) énnepe, OW. hepp says, OIr. aithesc answer. OE. inf. seċġan, 1 pres. ind. seċġe, pl. seċġao, etc., are repr. normally by ME. segge(n), etc. These began to be repl. in XII and were finally ousted by forms derived from OE. sæġ-, seġ-, of 2(and 3) pres. ind., viz. sæġ(e)st, seġ(e)st (sæġ(e)ö, seġ(e)ö), pt. sæġde said, pp. sæġd.
Hence sb. XVI.

Saʿy. The part of the Muslim ḥajj which comes after the circumambulation of the Kaʿba. The pilgrim leaves the masjid, left foot first, ascends the steps of al-Ṣafā and makes an invocation, looking toward the Kaʿba. He then descends and crosses the valley at a run until he reaches al-Marwa where again he prays.

say2 (hist.) serge-like cloth. XIII. — (O)F. saie :- L. saga, coll. pl. (used as sg.) of sagum coarse woollen blanket, military cloak, cloth covering.

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