say

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[edit] English

Most common English words: am « way « even « #123: say » well » many » work

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology

Old English secġan

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to say

Third person singular
says

Simple past
said

Past participle
said

Present participle
saying

to say (third-person singular simple present says, present participle saying, simple past and past participle said)

  1. To pronounce.
    Please say your name slowly and clearly.
  2. To recite.
    Martha, will you say grace?
  3. To communicate, either verbally or in writing.
    He said he would be here tomorrow.
  4. To indicate in a written form.
    The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.
  5. (impersonal) to have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact.
    • 1815, George Gordon Byron, The Hebrew Melodies/They say that Hope is happiness:
      They say that Hope is happiness; But genuine Love must prize the past.
    • 1819, Great Britain Court of Chancery, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the High Court of Chancery, page 8:
      It is said, a bargain cannot be set aside upon inadequacy only.
    • 1841, Christopher Marshall, The Knickerbocker (New-York Monthly Magazine), page 379:
      It’s said that fifteen wagon loads of ready-made clothes for the Virginia troops came to, and stay in, town to-night.
  6. (informal, imperative) Let's say.
    • 1984, Martin Amis, Money: a suicide note‎
      I've followed Selina down the strip, when we're shopping, say, and she strolls on ahead, wearing sawn-off jeans and a wash-withered T-shirt...

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

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[edit] References

[edit] Interjection

say

  1. (informal) Used to gain one's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion; hey
    Say, what did you think about the movie?

[edit] Crimean Tatar

[edit] Noun

say

  1. shallow place, island.

[edit] Declension

[edit] References

  • Useinov & Mireev Dictionary, Simferopol, Dolya, 2002 [1]

[edit] Vietnamese

[edit] Adjective

say

  1. Drunk, inebriated.