say(n = noun.state) - the chance to speak; "let him have his say"
is a kind of chance, opportunity
Derived forms verb say₁, verb say₉, verb say₂

1.  say(v = verb.communication) state, tell - express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name"
is one way to express, give tongue to, utter, verbalise, verbalize
Derived form noun say₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something; Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

2.  say(v = verb.communication) allege, aver - report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money"
is one way to assert, asseverate, maintain
Derived form noun say₁
Sample sentences: They say that there was a traffic accident

3.  say(v = verb.communication) suppose - express a supposition; "Let us say that he did not tell the truth"; "Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?"
is one way to speculate
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

4.  say(v = verb.stative) read - have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What does the law say?"
is one way to feature, have
Sample sentences: Something ----s Adjective/Noun; Something ----s something

5.  say(v = verb.communication) enjoin, order, tell - give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed"
is one way to request
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE; Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

6.  say(v = verb.communication) articulate, enounce, enunciate, pronounce, sound out - speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; "She pronounces French words in a funny way"; "I cannot say `zip wire'"; "Can the child sound out this complicated word?"
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

7.  say(v = verb.communication) - communicate or express nonverbally; "What does this painting say?"; "Did his face say anything about how he felt?"
is one way to convey
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Something ----s something

8.  say(v = verb.communication) - utter aloud; "She said `Hello' to everyone in the office"
is one way to express, give tongue to, utter, verbalise, verbalize
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

9.  say(v = verb.communication) - state as one's opinion or judgement; declare; "I say let's forget this whole business"
Derived form noun say₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

10.  say(v = verb.communication) - recite or repeat a fixed text; "Say grace"; "She said her `Hail Mary'"
is one way to recite
Derived form noun saying₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something

11.  say(v = verb.communication) - indicate; "The clock says noon"
is one way to read, record, register, show
Sample sentences: Something ----s something

   Saw. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

1.  Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack. [1913 Webster]
"If those principal works of God . . . be but certain tastes and says, as it were, of that final benefit." [1913 Webster]
"Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes." [1913 Webster]

2.  Tried quality; temper; proof. [1913 Webster]
"He found a sword of better say." [1913 Webster]

3.  Essay; trial; attempt. [1913 Webster]

   To try; to assay. B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

1.  A kind of silk or satin. [1913 Webster]
"Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord!" [1913 Webster]

2.  A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth. [1913 Webster]
"His garment neither was of silk nor say." [1913 Webster]

1.  To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things. [1913 Webster]
"Arise, and say how thou camest here." [1913 Webster]

2.  To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to say a lesson. [1913 Webster]
"Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
In what thou hadst to say?" [1913 Webster]
"After which shall be said or sung the following hymn." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"But what it is, hard is to say." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double,
Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?" [1913 Webster]

   To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply. [1913 Webster]
"You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge." [1913 Webster]
"To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies?" [1913 Webster]

   A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb. [1913 Webster]
"He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning snap." [1913 Webster]
"That strange palmer's boding say,
That fell so ominous and drear
Full on the object of his fear." [1913 Webster]

say, v. & n.
--v. (3rd sing. present says; past and past part. said)
1 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) a utter (specified words) in a speaking voice; remark (said 'Damn!'; said that he was satisfied). b put into words; express (that was well said; cannot say what I feel).
2 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) a state; promise or prophesy (says that there will be war). b have specified wording; indicate (says here that he was killed; the clock says ten to six).
3 tr. (in passive; usu. foll. by to + infin.) be asserted or described (is said to be 93 years old).
4 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) colloq. tell a person to do something (he said to bring the car).
5 tr. convey (information) (spoke for an hour but said little).
6 tr. put forward as an argument or excuse (much to be said in favour of it; what have you to say for yourself?).
7 tr. (often absol.) form and give an opinion or decision as to (who did it I cannot say; do say which you prefer).
8 tr. select, assume, or take as an example or (a specified number etc.) as near enough (shall we say this one?; paid, say, {pound}20).
9 tr. a speak the words of (prayers, Mass, a grace, etc.). b repeat (a lesson etc.); recite (can't say his tables).
10 tr. Art etc. convey (inner meaning or intention) (what is the director saying in this film?).
11 intr. a speak; talk. b (in imper.) poet. tell me (what is your name, say!).
12 tr. (the said) Law or joc. the previously mentioned (the said witness).
13 intr. (as int.) US an exclamation of surprise, to attract attention, etc.
--n.
1 a an opportunity for stating one's opinion etc. (let him have his say). b a stated opinion.
2 a share in a decision (had no say in the matter).

Idiom:
how say you? Law how do you find? (addressed to the jury requesting its verdict). I etc. cannot (or could not) say I etc. do not know. I'll say colloq. yes indeed. I say! Brit. an exclamation expressing surprise, drawing attention, etc. it is said the rumour is that. not to say and indeed; or possibly even (his language was rude not to say offensive). said he (or I etc.) colloq. or poet. he etc. said. say for oneself say by way of conversation, oratory, etc. say much (or something) for indicate the high quality of. say no refuse or disagree. say out express fully or candidly. says I (or he etc.) colloq. I, he, etc., said (used in reporting conversation). say-so
1 the power of decision.
2 mere assertion (cannot proceed merely on his say-so). say something make a short speech. says you! colloq. I disagree. say when colloq. indicate when enough drink or food has been given.
say the word
1 indicate that you agree or give permission.
2 give the order etc. say yes agree.
that is to say
1 in other words, more explicitly.
2 or at least. they say it is rumoured. to say nothing of = not to mention (see MENTION). what do (or would) you say to? would you like? when all is said and done after all, in the long run. you can say that again! (or you said it!) colloq. I agree emphatically. you don't say so colloq. an expression of amazement or disbelief.

Derivative:
sayable adj. sayer n.

Etymology:
OE secgan f. Gmc

N  speech, faculty of speech, locution, talk, parlance, verbal intercourse, prolation, oral communication, word of mouth, parole, palaver, prattle, effusion, oration, recitation, delivery, say, speech, lecture, harangue, sermon, tirade, formal speech, peroration, speechifying, soliloquy, allocution, conversation, salutatory : screed: valedictory, oratory, elocution, eloquence, rhetoric, declamation, grandiloquence, multiloquence, burst of eloquence, facundity, flow of words, command of words, command of language, copia verborum, power of speech, gift of the gab, usus loquendi, speaker, spokesman, prolocutor, interlocutor, mouthpiece, Hermes, orator, oratrix, oratress, Demosthenes, Cicero, rhetorician, stump orator, platform orator, speechmaker, patterer, improvisatore, speaking, spoken, oral, lingual, phonetic, not written, unwritten, outspoken, eloquent, elocutionary, oratorical, rhetorical, declamatory, grandiloquent, talkative, Ciceronian, nuncupative, Tullian, orally, by word of mouth, viva voce, from the lips of, quoth he, said he, action is eloquence, pour the full tide of eloquence along, she speaks poignards and every word stabs, speech is but broken light upon the depth of the u, to try thy eloquence now 'tis time.

VB  speak of, say, utter, pronounce, deliver, give utterance to, utter forth, pour forth, breathe, let fall, come out with, rap out, blurt out have on one's lips, have at the end of one's tongue, have at the tip of one's tongue, break silence, open one's lips, open one's mouth, lift one's voice, raise one's voice, give the tongue, wag the tongue, talk, outspeak, put in a word or two, hold forth, make a speech, deliver a speech, speechify, harangue, declaim, stump, flourish, recite, lecture, sermonize, discourse, be on one's legs, have one's say, say one's say, spout, rant, rave, vent one's fury, vent one's rage, expatiate, speak one's mind, go on the stump, take the stump, soliloquize, tell, speak to, talk together, be eloquent, have a tongue in one's head, have the gift of the gab, pass one's lips, escape one's lips, fall from the lips, fall from the mouth.

N  smallness, littleness, tenuity, paucity, fewness, meanness, insignificance (unimportance), mediocrity, moderation, small quantity, modicum, trace, hint, minimum, vanishing point, material point, atom, particle, molecule, corpuscle, point, speck, dot, mote, jot, iota, ace, minutiae, details, look, thought, idea, soupcon, dab, dight, whit, tittle, shade, shadow, spark, scintilla, gleam, touch, cast, grain, scruple, granule, globule, minim, sup, sip, sop, spice, drop, droplet, sprinkling, dash, morceau, screed, smack, tinge, tincture, inch, patch, scantling, tatter, cantlet, flitter, gobbet, mite, bit, morsel, crumb, seed, fritter, shive, snip, snippet, snick, snack, snatch, slip, scrag, chip, chipping, shiver, sliver, driblet, clipping, paring, shaving, hair, nutshell, thimbleful, spoonful, handful, capful, mouthful, fragment, fraction, drop in the ocean, animalcule, trifle, mere nothing, next to nothing, hardly anything, just enough to swear by, the shadow of a shade, finiteness, finite quantity, small, little, diminutive, minute, fine, inconsiderable, paltry, faint, slender, light, slight, scanty, scant, limited, meager, sparing, few, low, so-so, middling, tolerable, no great shakes, below par, under par, below the mark, at a low ebb, halfway, moderate, modest, tender, subtle, inappreciable, evanescent, infinitesimal, homeopathic, very small, atomic, corpuscular, microscopic, molecular, subatomic, mere, simple, sheer, stark, bare, near run, dull, petty, shallow, stolid, ungifted, unintelligent, to a small extent, on a small scale, a little bit, a wee bit, slightly, imperceptibly, miserably, wretchedly, insufficiently, imperfectly, faintly, passably, pretty well, well enough, partially, in part, in a certain degree, to a certain degree, to a certain extent, comparatively, some, rather in some degree, in some measure, something, somewhat, simply, only, purely, merely, at least, at the least, at most, at the most, ever so little, as little as may be, tant soit peu, in ever so small a degree, thus far, pro tanto, within bounds, in a manner, after a fashion, so to speak, almost, nearly, well-nigh, short of, not quite, all but, near upon, close upon, peu s'en faut, near the mark, within an ace of, within an inch of, on the brink of, scarcely, hardly, barely, only just, no more than, about, thereabouts, somewhere about, nearly, say, be the same, be little more or less, no ways, no way, no wise, not at all, not in the least, not a bit, not a bit of it, not a whit, not a jot, not a shadow, in no wise, in no respect, by no means, by no manner of means, on no account, at no hand, dare pondus idonea fumo, magno conatu magnas nugas, small sands the mountain, moments make the year.

N  regularity of recurrence, periodicity, intermittence, beat, oscillation, pulse, pulsation, rhythm, alternation, alternateness, alternativeness, alternity, bout, round, revolution, rotation, turn, say, anniversary, jubilee, centenary, catamenia, courses, menses, menstrual flux, rota, cycle, period, stated time, routine, days of the week, Sunday, Monday, months of the year, January, feast, fast, Christmas, Easter, New Year's day, Allhallows, Allhallowmas, All Saints' Day, All Souls', All Souls' Day, Ash Wednesday, bicentennial, birthday, bissextile, Candlemas, Dewali, groundhog day, Halloween, Hallowmas, Lady day, leap year, Midsummer day, Muharram, woodchuck day, St. Swithin's day, natal day, yearbook, yuletide, punctuality, regularity, steadiness, periodic, periodical, serial, recurrent, cyclical, rhythmical, recurring, intermittent, remittent, alternate, every other, hourly, diurnal, daily, quotidian, tertian, weekly, hebdomadal, hebdomadary, biweekly, fortnightly, bimonthly, catamenial, monthly, menstrual, yearly, annual, biennial, triennial, centennial, secular, paschal, lenten, regular, steady, punctual, regular as clockwork, periodically, at regular intervals, at stated times, at fixed established, at established periods, punctually, de die in diem, from day to day, day by day, by turns, in turn, in rotation, alternately, every other day, off and on, ride and tie, round and round.

VB  assert, make an assertion, have one's say, say, affirm, predicate, declare, state, protest, profess, put forth, put forward, advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend, depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear, make oath, take one's oath, make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit, take one's Bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero, swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue, be sworn, call Heaven to witness, vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle, swear by, insist upon, take one's stand upon, emphasize, lay stress on, assert roundly, assert positively, lay down, lay down the law, raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word, rap out, repeat, reassert, reaffirm, announce, acknowledge, attest, adjure.

as we say, never say die, say farewell, say hey kid, say so, say the word, that is to say