they say

1 definition found

they say - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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[aum]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.
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              Arise, and say how thou camest here.  --Shak.
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     2. To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to
        say a lesson.
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              Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
              In what thou hadst to say?            --Shak.
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              After which shall be said or sung the following
              hymn.                                 --Bk. of Com.
                                                    Prayer.
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     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.
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              But what it is, hard is to say.       --Milton.
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     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.
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              Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double,
              Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble? --Shak.
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     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.
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