Advertisement

gainsay (v.)

"contradict, deny, dispute," c. 1300, literally "say against," from gain- (Old English gegn- "against;" see again) + say (v.). In Middle English it translates Latin contradicere. "Solitary survival of a once common prefix" [Weekley]. It also figured in such now-obsolete compounds as gain-taking "taking back again," gainclap "a counterstroke," gainbuy "redeem," Gaincoming "Second Advent," and gainstand "to oppose." Related: Gainsaid; gainsaying.

Others are reading

Advertisement
Definitions of gainsay from WordNet

gainsay (v.)
take exception to;
Synonyms: challenge / dispute
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near gainsay

gaily

gain

gainer

gainful

gainly

gainsay

gainst

gait

gaiter

*gal-

gal