gainsay
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English gainsayen (“to say against, say in opposition to”), from gain- (“against, back”) + sayen (“to say”). More at gain-, say.
[edit] Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -eɪ
[edit] Verb
gainsay (third-person singular simple present gainsays, present participle gainsaying, simple past and past participle gainsaid)
- To contradict; to deny, refute; to controvert; to dispute; to forbid.
- 1840, Abel Upshur, A Brief Enquiry into the Nature and Character of our Federal Government, Campbell, page 84:
- The supreme court, therefore, may assume jurisdiction over subjects and between parties, not allowed by the constitution, and there is no power in the federal government to gainsay it.
- 1902, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles:
- Know then that in the time of the Great Rebellion (the history of which by the learned Lord Clarendon I most earnestly commend to your attention) this Manor of Baskerville was held by Hugo of that name, nor can it be gainsaid that he was a most wild, profane, and godless man.
- 1840, Abel Upshur, A Brief Enquiry into the Nature and Character of our Federal Government, Campbell, page 84:
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
to deny; to contradict
|
