Gainsay
/ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/noun
To deny, dispute, or contradict something.
Did you know?Gainsay comes from Old English and preserves the ancient idea of language as combat: to “say against” someone was to stand in direct verbal resistance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sekʷ-
“to say, utter”
Old English
OE
ġeansecgan
“to deny, oppose in words”
Middle English
ME
gainsayen
“to contradict, refuse assent”
Modern English
English
gainsay
“to deny or dispute”