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gainsaying. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
gainsaying, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
gainsaying in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
gainsaying you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology 1
From Middle English gaynesayenge, ȝeinseiing, ȝeinsegging, equivalent to gainsay + -ing.
Noun
gainsaying (plural gainsayings)
- Opposition, especially in speech.
1903, American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, Baptist missionary magazine: Volume 83:This gainsaying may take numberless forms: [...]
c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :Wee'le part the time betweene's then: and in that Ile no gaine-saying. […]
- Refusal to accept or believe something.
1859, Henry Alford, The Greek Testament::So that it is best to take this meaning here, and understand, that an oath puts an end to all gainsaying by confirming the matter one way, in which all parties consent [...]
- Contradiction.
1969, Robert Lisle Lindsey, A Hebrew translation of the Gospel of Mark:There is no gainsaying this logic.
- Denial; denying.
- 1887, The Rose of Paradise:
- But there was no gainsaying the wisdom of the advice which he had given me as to concealing the treasure.
- (archaic or obsolete) Rebellious opposition; rebellion.
Translations
Etymology 2
From gainsay.
Verb
gainsaying
- present participle and gerund of gainsay