| 释义 |
▪ I. gainsay, n.|ˈgeɪnseɪ|
[f. next; cf. gainsaw (gain- prefix 1).]
†a. A matter of dispute, a moot question (obs.).
b. Contradiction.
1559Cox in Strype Ann. Ref. I. App. xxii. 60 The matter of images hath always been a gainsay sith they entred first into the Church. 1601W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 317 To allow, admit, ratifie and confirme without all gainesay, controlment, or contradiction. 1820W. Irving Sketch Bk., Sleepy Hollow (ed. 2) ii. 371 He..was the umpire in all disputes, setting his hat on one side, and giving his decisions with an air and tone that admitted of no gainsay or appeal. 1889F. Hall in Nation (N.Y.) XLIX. 334/2 He has, beyond gainsay, established his intrepidity, if nothing else.
▪ II. gainsay, v.|ˈgeɪnseɪ, ˌgeɪnˈseɪ|
Inflected -saying, -said (rarely -sayed).
[f. gain- prefix 1 + say v. Now a purely literary word, and slightly arch. The stress is even or variable; the vbl. n. is commonly ˈgainsaying. In gainsaid the last syllable is usually (-sɛd).]
1. trans. To deny.
a1300Cursor M. 883 (Gött.) All þis may scho noght gain say. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 154 If he it geynsay, I wille proue it on him. 1489Caxton Faytes of A. i. i. 8 Yf it happene that y⊇ said aduersarye delyuer deffences & wyll gaynsaye it. 1530Palsgr. 560/1 If I have sayd it I wyll nat gayne saye it. c1570Pride & Lowl. (1841) 22 That this is true and may not be denyed, I wyll averre, and yf he it gayne say, I am content by verdict it be tryed. a1619M. Fotherby Atheom. i. viii. § 1. (1622) 55 He, which dare gain-say a thing so generally received. 1682Bunyan Holy War 113 He that gainsays the truth of this must lie against his Soul. 1728T. Sheridan Persius vi. (1739) 91 Gainsay it if you dare. 1826E. Irving Babylon II. vii. 168 Whether he will in person appear..we dare neither say nor gainsay. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. vi. 498 Facts which cannot be gainsayed. 1874G. W. Dasent Tales fr. Fjeld 350 So when the Sheriff asked him Matt did not gainsay that he had slain the parson.
2. To speak against, contradict.
c1340Cursor M. 14817 (Fairf.) Nane man may him gaine-sagh. [The other texts have n.] c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 2086, Bot oft tymes schortely him gainsayed. 1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 506 Not we onelye do gaynesay you, but the whole authority of Gods Testament doth determine agaynst you. 1689–92Locke Toleration iii. x. Wks. 1727 II. 463 And that certainly you may think safely, and without fear of being gain-said. 1742R. Blair Grave 230 The Grave gainsays the smooth-complexion'd Flattery, And with blunt Truth acquaints us what we are. 1874Carpenter Ment. Phys. i. viii. (1879) 374 We have evidence that can scarcely be gainsaid.
3. To speak or act against, oppose, hinder.
c1340Cursor M. 5769 (Trin.) Þat þei not ȝein seye [earlier texts say again] my sonde wiþ my tokenes þou shalt hem fonde. c1440York Myst. x. 198 My lord god will I noght gayne-saye. c1489Caxton Blanchardyn xxxviii. 143 That wold hem lete or gaynsey thentre therof. 1550Crowley Way to Wealth B iv, No man durste gaine saye your doinges for feare of displeasure. 1601R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 34 The waters..gainsaid and put a period to their further progresses. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 1158 Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay, Nay didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. 1768Beattie Minstr. i. xlix, Or shall frail man heaven's dread decree gainsay. 1826Scott Woodst. ii, ‘Yet be ruled, dearest father, and submit to that which we cannot gainsay.’ 1852M. Arnold Empedocles on Etna i. ii, Why is it, that still Man..believes Nature outraged if his will's gainsaid?
4. To refuse. rare.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 9 Kynewolf..toke þe feaute of þe kynges alle..Bot of Kent and Lyndesay and Northumberland. Þise þre kynges geynsaid it hym. c1532G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 923 To be gainsayeng and refusyng good counsayle. 1575R. B. Appius & Virg. in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 126 Would I gainsay her tender skin to bathe, where I do wash? 1667Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 310 It is not in his nature to gainsay anything that relates to his pleasures. |