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gainsay

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.21 sec.
gain·say  (gn-s, gns)
tr.v. gain·said (-sd, -sd), gain·say·ing, gain·says (-sz, -sz)
1. To declare false; deny. See Synonyms at deny.
2. To oppose, especially by contradiction.

[Middle English gainsayen : gain-, against (from Old English gegn-) + sayen, to say (from Old English secgan; see say).]

gain·sayer n.

gainsay [geɪnˈseɪ]
vb -says, -saying, -said
(tr) Archaic or literary to deny (an allegation, a statement, etc.); contradict
[C13 gainsaien, from gain- against + saien to say1]
gainsayer  n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.gainsay - take exception to; "She challenged his claims"
call - challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of; "call the speaker on a question of fact"
call - challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense; "He deserves to be called on that"
contest, repugn, contend - to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation; "They contested the outcome of the race"

gainsay
verb deny, dispute, disagree with, contradict, contravene, rebut, controvert There was no-one to gainsay this assertion.
back, support, confirm, agree with
Translations
gainsay [ˌgeɪnˈseɪ] (gainsaid (pt, pp)) VT (liter) → contradecir, negar
it cannot be gainsaides innegable
gainsay [ˌgeɪnˈseɪ] vtnier
gainsay
vt pret, ptp <gainsaid> → widersprechen (+dat); fact(ab)leugnen, bestreiten; evidence, argumentwiderlegen; it/the facts cannot be gainsaides lässt/die Tatsachen lassen sich nicht leugnen; there is no gainsaying his honestyseine Ehrlichkeit lässt sich nicht leugnen
gainsay [ˌgeɪnˈseɪ] (gainsaid (pt, pp)) [ˌgeɪnˈsɛd] vt (frm) (fact, argument) → contestare, negare; (person) → contraddire
gainsay [ˌgeɪnˈseɪ] (gainsaid (pt, pp)) [ˌgeɪnˈsɛd] vt (frm) (fact, argument) → contestare, negare; (person) → contraddire


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
In vain did the poor old father weep and implore her pity; she was firm, and he dared not gainsay her.
No one ventured to gainsay the missionary, whose excited tone contrasted curiously with his naturally calm visage.
He thought that since the maid was defenseless he could carry her away to one of his castles and none could gainsay him.
 
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