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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SAY, v.t. pret. and pp. said, contracted from sayed.
1. To speak; to utter in words; as, he said nothing; he said many things; he says not a word. Say a good word for me.
It is observable that although this word is radically synonymous with speak and tell, yet the uses are applications of these words are different. Thus we say, to speak an oration, to tell a story; but in these phrases, say cannot be used. Yet to say a lesson is good English, though not very elegant. We never use the phrases to say a sermon or discourse, to say an argument, to say a speech, to say testimony.
A very general use of say is to introduce a relation, narration or recital, either of the speaker himself or of something said or done or to be done by another. Thus Adam said, this is bone of my bone; Noah said, blessed be the Lord God of Shem. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Say to the cities of Judah, behold your God. I cannot say what I should do in a similar case. Say thus precedes a sentence. But it is perhaps impracticable to reduce the peculiar and appropriate uses of say, speak and tell, to general rules. They can be learned only by observation.
2. To declare. Genesis 38.
3. To utter; to pronounce.
Say now Shibboleth. Judges 12.
4. To utter, as a command.
God said, let there be light. Genesis 1.
5. To utter, as a promise. Luke 23.
6. To utter, as a question or answer. Mark 11.
7. To affirm; to teach. Matthew 17.
8. To confess. Luke 17.
9. To testify. Acts 26.
10. To argue; to allege by way of argument.
After all that can be said against a thing -
11. To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; as, to say a lesson.
12. To pronounce; to recite without singing. Then shall be said or sung as follows.
13. To report; as in the phrases, it is said, they say.
14. To answer; to utter by way of reply; to tell.
Say, Stella, feel you no content, reflecting on a life well spent?
[Note - This verb is not properly intransitive. In the phrase, "as when we say, Plato is no fool," the last clause is the object after the verb; that is, "we say what follows." If this verb is properly intransitive in any case, it is in the phrase, "that is to say," but in such cases, the subsequent clause is the object of the verb, being that which is said, uttered or related.]
SAY, n. A speech; something said. [In popular use, but not elegant.]
SAY, n. [for assay.]
1. A sample. Obs.
2. Trial by sample. Obs.
SAY, n. A thin silk. Obs.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the chance to speak; "let him have his say" v
1: express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name" [syn: state, say, tell]
2: report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money" [syn: allege, aver, say]
3: express a supposition; "Let us say that he did not tell the truth"; "Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?" [syn: suppose, say]
4: have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What does the law say?" [syn: read, say]
5: give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed" [syn: order, tell, enjoin, say]
6: speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; "She pronounces French words in a funny way"; "I cannot say `zip wire'"; "Can the child sound out this complicated word?" [syn: pronounce, articulate, enounce, sound out, enunciate, say]
7: communicate or express nonverbally; "What does this painting say?"; "Did his face say anything about how he felt?"
8: utter aloud; "She said `Hello' to everyone in the office"
9: state as one's opinion or judgement; declare; "I say let's forget this whole business"
10: recite or repeat a fixed text; "Say grace"; "She said her `Hail Mary'"
11: indicate; "The clock says noon"

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (said; saying; says) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English secgan; akin to Old High German sag?n to say, Lithuanian sakyti, Greek ennepein to speak, tell Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to express in words ; state b. to state as opinion or belief ; declare 2. a. utter, pronounce b. recite, repeat <say your prayers> 3. a. indicate, show <the clock says five minutes after twelve> b. to give expression to ; communicate <a glance that said all that was necessary> 4. suppose, assume <let's say you're right> intransitive verb to express oneself ; speak • sayer noun II. noun (plural says) Date: 1571 1. archaic something that is said ; statement 2. an expression of opinion <had my say> 3. a right or power to influence action or decision; especially the authority to make final decisions III. adverb Etymology: from imperative of ¹say Date: circa 1596 1. about, approximately <the property is worth, say, four million dollars> 2. for example ; as <if we compress any gas, say oxygen>

Britannica Concise

French economist. He edited a magazine and started a spinning mill before joining the faculty of the Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (1817-30) and the Collè ge de France (1830-32). In his major work, A Treatise on Political Economy (1803), he advanced his law of markets, which claims that supply creates its own demand. He attributed economic depression not to a general deficiency in demand but rather to temporary overproduction for some markets and underproduction for others, an imbalance that must automatically adjust itself as overproducers redirect their production to conform with consumers' preferences. Say's law remained a central tenet of orthodox economics until the Great Depression.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. (3rd sing. present says; past and past part. said) 1 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) a utter (specified words) in a speaking voice; remark (said 'Damn!'; said that he was satisfied). b put into words; express (that was well said; cannot say what I feel). 2 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) a state; promise or prophesy (says that there will be war). b have specified wording; indicate (says here that he was killed; the clock says ten to six). 3 tr. (in passive; usu. foll. by to + infin.) be asserted or described (is said to be 93 years old). 4 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) colloq. tell a person to do something (he said to bring the car). 5 tr. convey (information) (spoke for an hour but said little). 6 tr. put forward as an argument or excuse (much to be said in favour of it; what have you to say for yourself?). 7 tr. (often absol.) form and give an opinion or decision as to (who did it I cannot say; do say which you prefer). 8 tr. select, assume, or take as an example or (a specified number etc.) as near enough (shall we say this one?; paid, say, £20). 9 tr. a speak the words of (prayers, Mass, a grace, etc.). b repeat (a lesson etc.); recite (can't say his tables). 10 tr. Art etc. convey (inner meaning or intention) (what is the director saying in this film?). 11 intr. a speak; talk. b (in imper.) poet. tell me (what is your name, say!). 12 tr. (the said) Law or joc. the previously mentioned (the said witness). 13 intr. (as int.) US an exclamation of surprise, to attract attention, etc. --n. 1 a an opportunity for stating one's opinion etc. (let him have his say). b a stated opinion. 2 a share in a decision (had no say in the matter). Phrases and idioms: how say you? Law how do you find? (addressed to the jury requesting its verdict). I etc. cannot (or could not) say I etc. do not know. I'll say colloq. yes indeed. I say! Brit. an exclamation expressing surprise, drawing attention, etc. it is said the rumour is that. not to say and indeed; or possibly even (his language was rude not to say offensive). said he (or I etc.) colloq. or poet. he etc. said. say for oneself say by way of conversation, oratory, etc. say much (or something) for indicate the high quality of. say no refuse or disagree. say out express fully or candidly. says I (or he etc.) colloq. I, he, etc., said (used in reporting conversation). say-so 1 the power of decision. 2 mere assertion (cannot proceed merely on his say-so). say something make a short speech. says you! colloq. I disagree. say when colloq. indicate when enough drink or food has been given. say the word 1 indicate that you agree or give permission. 2 give the order etc. say yes agree. that is to say 1 in other words, more explicitly. 2 or at least. they say it is rumoured. to say nothing of = not to mention (see MENTION). what do (or would) you say to? would you like? when all is said and done after all, in the long run. you can say that again! (or you said it!) colloq. I agree emphatically. you don't say so colloq. an expression of amazement or disbelief. Derivatives: sayable adj. sayer n. Etymology: OE secgan f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Say Say (s[=a]), obs. imp. of See. Saw. --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Say Say (s[=a]), n. [Aphetic form of assay.] 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. --Hooker. Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes. --Shak. 2. Tried quality; temper; proof. [Obs.] He found a sword of better say. --Spenser. 3. Essay; trial; attempt. [Obs.] To give a say at, to attempt. --B. Jonson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Say Say, v. t. To try; to assay. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Say Say, n. [OE. saie, F. saie, fr. L. saga, equiv. to sagum, sagus, a coarse woolen mantle; cf. Gr. sa`gos. See Sagum.] 1. A kind of silk or satin. [Obs.] Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord! --Shak. 2. A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth. [Obs.] His garment neither was of silk nor say. --Spenser.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Say Say, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Said (s[e^]d), contracted from sayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Saying.] [OE. seggen, seyen, siggen, sayen, sayn, AS. secgan; akin to OS. seggian, D. zeggen, LG. seggen, OHG. sag[=e]n, G. sagen, Icel. segja, Sw. s["a]ga, Dan. sige, Lith. sakyti; cf. OL. insece tell, relate, Gr. 'e`nnepe (for 'en-sepe), 'e`spete. Cf. Saga, Saw a 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. --Shak. 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? --Shak. After which shall be said or sung the following hymn. --Bk. of Com. Prayer. 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. --Milton. 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? --Shak. It is said, or They say, it is commonly reported; it is rumored; people assert or maintain. That is to say, that is; in other words; otherwise.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Say Say, v. i. To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply. You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge. --Shak. To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies? --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Say Say, n. [From Say, v. t.; cf. Saw a saying.] 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. --L'Estrange. That strange palmer's boding say, That fell so ominous and drear Full on the object of his fear. --Sir W. Scott.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(says, saying, said) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. When you say something, you speak words. 'I'm sorry,' he said... She said they were very impressed... Forty-one people are said to have been seriously hurt... I packed and said goodbye to Charlie... I hope you didn't say anything about Gretchen... Did he say where he was going?... It doesn't sound exactly orthodox, if I may say so. VERB: V with quote, V that, be V-ed to-inf, V n to n, V n, V wh, V so 2. You use say in expressions such as I would just like to say to introduce what you are actually saying, or to indicate that you are expressing an opinion or admitting a fact. If you state that you can't say something or you wouldn't say something, you are indicating in a polite or indirect way that it is not the case. I would just like to say that this is the most hypocritical thing I have ever heard in my life... I must say that rather shocked me, too... Dead? Well, I can't say I'm sorry. VERB: V that, V that, V that 3. You can mention the contents of a piece of writing by mentioning what it says or what someone says in it. The report says there is widespread and routine torture of political prisoners in the country... You can't have one without the other, as the song says... 'Highly inflammable,' it says on the spare canister... Jung believed that God speaks to us in dreams. The Bible says so too. VERB: V that, V with quote, it V with quote, V so 4. If you say something to yourself, you think it. Perhaps I'm still dreaming, I said to myself... VERB: V to pron-refl with quote 5. If you have a say in something, you have the right to give your opinion and influence decisions relating to it. The students wanted more say in the government of the university. N-SING: usu a N, also more/some N 6. You indicate the information given by something such as a clock, dial, or map by mentioning what it says. The clock said four minutes past eleven... The map says there's six of them. VERB: V n, V that 7. If something says something about a person, situation, or thing, it gives important information about them. I think that says a lot about how well Seles is playing... The appearance of the place and the building says something about the importance of the project. VERB: V amount about n, V pron about n 8. If something says a lot for a person or thing, it shows that this person or thing is very good or has a lot of good qualities. It says a lot for him that he has raised his game to the level required... It says much for Brookner's skill that the book is sad, but never depressing. VERB: V amount for n, it V amount for n that 9. You use say in expressions such as I'll say that for them and you can say this for them after or before you mention a good quality that someone has, usually when you think they do not have many good qualities. He's usually smartly-dressed, I'll say that for him... At the very least, he is devastatingly sure of himself, you can say that. VERB: V pron for n, V pron 10. You can use say when you want to discuss something that might possibly happen or be true. Say you could change anything about the world we live in, what would it be? = suppose VERB: only imper, V that 11. You can use say or let's say when you mention something as an example. To see the problem here more clearly, let's look at a different biological system, say, an acorn... 12. If you say that something says it all, you mean that it shows you very clearly the truth about a situation or someone's feelings. This is my third visit in a week, which says it all. PHRASE: V inflects 13. You can use 'You don't say' to express surprise at what someone has told you. People often use this expression to indicate that in fact they are not surprised. 'I'm a writer.'—'You don't say. What kind of book are you writing?' CONVENTION [feelings] 14. If you say there is a lot to be said for something, you mean you think it has a lot of good qualities or aspects. There's a lot to be said for being based in the country. PHRASE: amount PHR 15. If someone asks what you have to say for yourself, they are asking what excuse you have for what you have done. 'Well,' she said eventually, 'what have you to say for yourself?' PHRASE 16. If something goes without saying, it is obvious. It goes without saying that if someone has lung problems they should not smoke. PHRASE: oft it PHR that 17. When one of the people or groups involved in a discussion has their say, they give their opinion. The Football Association have had their say. PHRASE: V inflects 18. You use 'I wouldn't say no' to indicate that you would like something, especially something that has just been offered to you. (INFORMAL) I wouldn't say no to a drink. CONVENTION [formulae] 19. You use to say nothing of when you mention an additional thing which gives even more strength to the point you are making. Unemployment leads to a sense of uselessness, to say nothing of financial problems. PHRASE: PHR n 20. You use that is to say or that's to say to indicate that you are about to express the same idea more clearly or precisely. (FORMAL) ...territories that were occupied in 1967, that is to say, in the West Bank and Gaza. PHRASE: PHR with cl/group 21. You can use 'You can say that again' to express strong agreement with what someone has just said. (INFORMAL) 'Must have been a fiddly job.'—'You can say that again.' CONVENTION [emphasis] 22. to say the least: see least needless to say: see needless

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Speak, utter, tell, declare, pronounce, express. 2. Argue, allege, affirm. 3. Repeat, rehearse, recite. 4. Pronounce, recite. 5. Answer, tell, reply. 6. Suppose, presume, assume, take for granted. 7. Decide, judge. II. v. n. Declare, speak, assert, tell. III. n. 1. Affirmation, declaration, statement, speech. 2. Maxim, saying, saw.

Moby Thesaurus

Australian ballot, Hare system, Parthian shot, about, absolute power, absolutism, acknowledge, acme, address, affirm, affirmance, affirmation, after-dinner speech, allegation, allege, allocution, almost, animadvert, announce, announcement, annunciate, annunciation, answer, answer back, apostrophe, approximately, approximatively, argue, articulate, ascendancy, assert, assertion, assever, asseverate, asseveration, assume, authority, authorization, aver, averment, avouch, avouchment, avow, avowal, aye, ballot, be afraid, be-all and end-all, believe, blue ribbon, bout, break silence, breathe, bring out, canvass, canvassing, casting vote, chalk talk, championship, chance, charisma, charm, chime, chime in, choice, chorus, cite, clout, come back, come out with, command, comment, communicate, competence, competency, conceive, conclude, conclusion, consequence, consider, constituted authority, contend, control, convey, counting heads, crack, credit, creed, cumulative voting, daresay, debate, deciding vote, decision, declamation, declaration, declare, deduce, deem, delegated authority, deliver, diatribe, dictum, directorship, disclose, discretion, divine, divine right, division, dominance, domination, dominion, dream, echo, effect, effectiveness, eminence, emit, enchantment, enfranchisement, enunciate, enunciation, esteem, eulogy, exclamation, exhortation, expect, express, expression, faculty, fagot vote, fancy, favor, feel, filibuster, first place, first prize, flash back, fling off, for practical purposes, force, forensic, forensic address, formal speech, formulate, franchise, free choice, free decision, free will, full consent, funeral oration, gather, generally, generally speaking, give, give acknowledgment, give answer, give expression, give out with, give tongue, give utterance, give voice, go, good feeling, grant, graveyard vote, greeting, hand vote, harangue, have, headship, hegemony, height, highest, hold, hortatory address, imagine, impart, imperium, importance, in round numbers, inaugural, inaugural address, incidental power, indicate, indirect authority, infer, influence, influentiality, inherent authority, inning, innings, insinuation, insist, interjection, invective, ipse dixit, issue a manifesto, jeremiad, jurisdiction, jus divinum, just, kingship, lawful authority, lay down, leadership, legal authority, legitimacy, let, let be, let out, leverage, lip, list system, lordship, magnetism, maintain, management, manifesto, mark, mastership, mastery, maximum, mention, moment, more or less, most, nay, ne plus ultra, new high, no, noncontingent free will, nontransferable vote, note, observation, opine, opportunity, option, oration, out with, palms, paramountcy, pep talk, peroration, personality, persuasion, philippic, phonate, phrase, pipe up, pitch, place, plebiscite, plebiscitum, plumper, plural vote, poll, polling, position, position paper, positive declaration, potency, pour forth, power, practically, predicate, predication, predominance, preferential voting, prefigure, prepared speech, prepared text, preponderance, prerogative, present, presidency, pressure, prestige, presume, presuppose, presurmise, primacy, proclaim, proclamation, profess, profession, pronounce, pronouncement, proportional representation, proposition, protest, protestation, provisionally accept, proxy, public speech, purchase, put, put forth, put in words, put it, question, quote, raise, react, read, reading, recital, recitation, recite, reckon, record, record vote, reecho, referendum, reflection, regality, register, reign, rejoin, relief, remark, repeat, reply, representation, repute, respond, retort, return, return answer, return for answer, reverberate, right, right to vote, rightful authority, riposte, rising vote, roughly, roughly speaking, round, roundly, royal prerogative, rule, sales talk, salutatory, salutatory address, say in reply, say out, say-so, saying, screed, secret ballot, sentence, set down, set forth, set speech, shoot back, show of hands, single vote, snap vote, sound, sovereignty, speak, speak out, speak up, speech, speechification, speeching, spell, stance, stand, stand for, stand on, state, statement, straw vote, suasion, subjoinder, submit, subtle influence, suffrage, suggestion, suppose, supremacy, surmise, suspect, sway, take, take for, take for granted, take it, take the floor, take to be, talk, talk back, talkathon, tell, the say, the say-so, think, thought, throw off, throw out, time, time at bat, tirade, top spot, transferable vote, turn, understand, upper hand, utter, utterance, valediction, valedictory, valedictory address, verbalize, vested authority, vicarious authority, viva voce, vocalize, voice, voice vote, vote, voting, voting right, vouch, weight, whack, whip hand, whisper, word, write-in, write-in vote, yea, yeas and nays, yes, zenith