From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
saying
n 1: a word or phrase that particular people use in particular
situations; "pardon the expression" [syn: saying,
expression, locution]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Saying \Say"ing\, n.
That which is said; a declaration; a statement, especially a
proverbial one; an aphorism; a proverb.
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Many are the sayings of the wise,
In ancient and in modern books enrolled. --Milton.
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Syn: Declaration; speech; adage; maxim; aphorism; apothegm;
saw; proverb; byword.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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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