gainsay etymology

Etymology

Origin: Middle English gainsayen, from Old French gainsdire, from Medieval Latin gain(s)-, from Latin contra- "against, in opposition to" + dicere "to say, speak"

Meaning: To contradict or deny something someone has said or claimed.

Definition

Gainsay means to contradict or deny something that someone has said or claimed. It is often used in a formal or academic context, and it can also be used to express a disagreement with a particular opinion or belief.

Examples

• I cannot gainsay your argument that the government is responsible for the economic crisis.
• The professor's research has been widely accepted, and it is difficult to gainsay his conclusions.
• I strongly disagree with your assessment of the situation, and I must gainsay your claims.

Synonyms

• Contradict
• Dispute
• Deny
• Refute
• Challenge

Antonyms

• Agree
• Accept
• Affirm
• Support

gainsay relate terms

• eftsoons

  Etymology Old English eft again sōna soon Meaning Again soon Once more

• challenge

  Etymology The word challenge derives from the Old French word chalenge which itself

• dispute

  Etymology The word dispute originates from the Latin word disputare which means to

• contest

  Etymology The word contest comes from the Old French word conteste meaning dispute

• question

  Etymology Question comes from the Latin word quaestio meaning inquiry investigatio

• contend

  Etymology and Meaning Contend comes from the Latin word contendere which means to str

• call

  Etymology Call derives from the Proto Germanic root kallan meaning to call proc

• arrogance

  Etymology Origin Latin arrogare to claim for oneself to appropriate Meaning An exa

• rock

  Etymology The word rock originates from the Old English word rocc which meant a la

• scrutiny

  Etymology Scrutiny comes from Latin scrutinium meaning examination or inquiry It i

• phobia

  Etymology The word phobia originates from the Greek word phobos meaning fear or