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.