Say /(sā)/

1. Saw. obs.

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.

   Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes.

2. Tried quality; temper; proof. [Obs.]

   He found a sword of better say.

3. Essay; trial; attempt. [Obs.]

1. To try; to assay. [Obs.]

1. A kind of silk or satin. [Obs.]

   Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord!

2. A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth. [Obs.]

   His garment neither was of silk nor say.

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.

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?

   After which shall be said or sung the following hymn.

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.

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?

1. To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.

   You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge.

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

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.

   That strange palmer's boding say, That fell so ominous and drear Full on the object of his fear.