Jean say

[sey] /seɪ/

noun
1.
Jean Baptiste
[zhahn ba-teest] /ʒɑ̃ baˈtist/ (Show IPA), 1767–1832, French economist.
Compare .
2.
Thomas, 1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.
/seɪ/
verb (mainly transitive) says (sɛz), saying, said
1.
to speak, pronounce, or utter
2.
(also intransitive) to express (an idea) in words; tell: we asked his opinion but he refused to say
3.
(also intransitive; may take a clause as object) to state (an opinion, fact, etc) positively; declare; affirm
4.
to recite: to say grace
5.
(may take a clause as object) to report or allege: they say we shall have rain today
6.
(may take a clause as object) to take as an assumption; suppose: let us say that he is lying
7.
(may take a clause as object) to convey by means of artistic expression: the artist in this painting is saying that we should look for hope
8.
to make a case for: there is much to be said for either course of action
9.
(usually passive) (Irish) to persuade or coax (someone) to do something: If I hadn’t been said by her, I wouldn’t be in this fix
10.
go without saying, to be so obvious as to need no explanation
11.
(mainly Brit, informal) I say!, an exclamation of surprise
12.
not to say, even; and indeed
13.
that is to say, in other words; more explicitly
14.
to say nothing of, as well as; even disregarding: he was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of a thick overcoat
15.
to say the least, without the slightest exaggeration; at the very least
adverb
16.
approximately: there were, say, 20 people present
17.
for example: choose a number, say, four
noun
18.
the right or chance to speak: let him have his say
19.
authority, esp to influence a decision: he has a lot of say in the company’s policy
20.
a statement of opinion: you’ve had your say, now let me have mine
interjection
21.
(US & Canadian, informal) an exclamation to attract attention or express surprise, etc
/seɪ/
noun
1.
(archaic) a type of fine woollen fabric
v.

Old English secgan “to utter, inform, speak, tell, relate,” from Proto-Germanic *sagjanan (cf. Old Saxon seggian, Old Norse segja, Danish sige, Old Frisian sedsa, Middle Dutch segghen, Dutch zeggen, Old High German sagen, German sagen “to say”), from PIE *sokwyo-, from root *sekw- (3) “to say, utter” (cf. Hittite shakiya- “to declare,” Lithuanian sakyti “to say,” Old Church Slavonic sociti “to vindicate, show,” Old Irish insce “speech,” Old Latin inseque “to tell say”).

Past tense said developed from Old English segde. Not attested in use with inanimate objects (clocks, signs, etc.) as subjects before 1930. You said it “you’re right” first recorded 1919; you can say that again as a phrase expressing agreement is recorded from 1942, American English. You don’t say (so) as an expression of astonishment (often ironic) is first recorded 1779, American English.
n.

“what someone says,” 1570s, from say (v.). Meaning “right or authority to influence a decision” is from 1610s. Extended form say-so is first recorded 1630s. Cf. Old English secge “speech.”

Related Terms

what do you say