gainsay

To gainsay is defined as to oppose, deny or say something is false.

(verb)

An example of to gainsay is to go against a popular opinion.

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See gainsay in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb gainsaid , gainsaying

  1. to deny
  2. to contradict
  3. to speak or act against; oppose

Origin: ME geinseggen < gein- < OE gegn, against (see again) + secgan (see say)

noun

a gainsaying

Related Forms:

See gainsay in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb gain·said (-sādˈ, -sĕdˈ), gain·say·ing, gain·says (-sāzˈ, -sĕzˈ)
  1. To declare false; deny. See Synonyms at deny.
  2. To oppose, especially by contradiction.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English gainsayen

Origin: : gain-, against (from Old English gegn-)

Origin: + sayen, to say (from Old English secgan; see say)

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Related Forms:

  • gain·sayˈer noun

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