'They say' definitions:
Definition of 'They say'
From: 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. [1913 Webster]
- Arise, and say how thou camest here. --Shak. [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? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- After which shall be said or sung the following hymn. --Bk. of Com. Prayer. [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. --Milton. [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? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]