Say, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Said contracted from sayed; p. pr. & vb. n. 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.