gainsay
- to deny, dispute, or contradict.
- to speak or act against; oppose.
Origin of gainsay
Related Words for gainsaying
contravene, traverse, impugn, combat, disclaim, repudiate, refute, disagree, deny, fight, resist, controvert, oppose, negative, disprove, negate, cross, withstand, dispute, disaffirmExamples from the Web for gainsaying
Historical Examples of gainsaying
But there was no gainsaying, even in his confused condition, Music Mountain.
Nan of Music MountainFrank H. Spearman
Mrs. Middleton was sentimental—there was no gainsaying that; she was rather gushing.
Elsie Marley, HoneyJoslyn Gray
But if 'tis duty, my lad, England expec's and I'm not gainsaying.
The Adventures of Harry RevelSir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
I'm writing a good sound science book, which there's no gainsaying.
Fantasia of the UnconsciousD. H. Lawrence
There's no gainsaying it, they'll all pass out of our hands.
The Nabob, Volume 1 (of 2)Alphonse Daudet
gainsay
- (tr) archaic, or literary to deny (an allegation, a statement, etc); contradict
Word Origin for gainsay
Word Origin and History for gainsaying
gainsay
"contradict," c.1300, literally "say against," from Old English gegn- "against" (see again) + say (v.). "Solitary survival of a once common prefix" [Weekley], which was used to form such now-obsolete compounds as gain-taking "taking back again," gainclap "a counterstroke," gainbuy "redeem," and gainstand "to oppose." Related: Gainsaid; gainsaying.