† withsayn.
Obsolete.
= withsaw n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > speaking against or contradiction > [noun]
withsaying?c1225
withsawa1250
gain-sawa1300
withsayc1315
again-sayingc1350
contradictionc1382
again-sawa1400
contraryinga1450
against-sayingc1450
againsay1484
saying-againa1500
controversion1548
countersaying1581
gain-speaking1583
contradict1606
obloquity1624
counter-speech1647
contrariation1651
crossing1692
c1315 Shoreham vii. 369 Þer nere stryf ne contekynge, Ne no wyþ-sey.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
† withsayv.
Obsolete.
1. transitive. To renounce. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > apostasy > renounce (God or Christ) [verb (transitive)]
withsayc960
forsake toa1225
renayc1300
to fall from ——c1350
refusec1350
to fall awayc1384
renege1548
revolt1673
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] > desert/renounce a cause, principle, or person
withsayc960
forsakec1175
renayc1300
waive1303
to waive from1303
allayc1330
to fall from ——c1350
relinquish1454
forlesec1460
to give over1477
missake1481
return1483
guerpe1484
abrenounce1537
to turn the back uponc1540
renege1548
forspeak1565
recant1567
reject1574
abnegate1616
abrenunciate1618
derelinque1623
ejurate1623
to give one the backa1624
derelinquisha1631
ejure1642
delinquish1645
desert1654
deviate1757
to give up1970
c960 in J. Stevenson Rituale Ecclesiæ Dunelmensis (1840) 34 Terrena desideria respuentes, eardlico lvsto wiðsæcgende.
c1386 G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale 447 Euery cristen wight shal han penaunce But if that he his cristendom withseye.
c1386 G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale 457 We that knowen thilke name [of Christian] so For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.
2.
a. To affirm the contrary of, contradict, deny (a fact or statement); also, to deny the existence of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > denial or contradiction > deny or contradict [verb (transitive)]
withquethec888
withsake971
falsea1225
withsay?c1225
denyc1300
again-saya1382
naitc1390
nitec1390
naya1400
nicka1400
warna1400
denytec1420
traversea1450
repugnc1456
unsayc1460
renay1512
disavow?1532
disaffirm1548
contradict1582
fault1585
belie1587
infringe1590
dementie1594
abnegate1616
negate1623
nege1624
abrenounce1656
nay-saya1774
negative1784
dement1884
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 68 Ȝef an mon..deð swa muche mis. þet hit beo se open sunne. þet he hit ne maȝe nanesweis allunge wið seggen.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2309 To londone he gan him bringe, & sede he was purost eyr to be icrouned to kinge. Nomon ne miȝte it wel wiþ segge.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 9800 Syker ys, þat yn rolle ys leyde, For þan may hyt neuer be wyþseyde.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 19 Sawes þat wiþseiþ nouȝt oure byleue.
1443–50 in W. P. Baildon Sel. Cases Chancery (1896) 136 He withseieth not the matier conteigned in the seid bille of complainte.
1493 Cov. Leet Bk. 57 To which the Recordour..seid that he withseith not þe ffraunchis of Couentre, nor the allowance þerof had at Bristoll.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 783/2 Sythe I have sayd it, I wyll never withsay it.
1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. 136 That Dian witnesde thou canst not withsaye.
b. To contradict, deny the statement of (a person).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > denial or contradiction > deny or contradict [verb (transitive)] > the statement of (a person)
withsay1297
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 10349 Wan þou seist, quaþ þe king, þat þat was mi þouȝt, So gret louerd as þou art, Ine wiþsegge þe nouȝt.
1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 5594 I ne may Suffre..But that I muste yow with-seyn.
1530 J. Rastell New Bk. Purgatory i. vii. sig. a5v As beyng and not beynge be two contraryauntys [and repugnauntes, and some call them contradyctoryes that is to say, that] the one alway doth denye & with saye the other.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer i. f. cccxxviii To withsay thilke men that of the speken, otherwyse than the sothe.
c. intransitive. To make denial or contradiction; to speak in opposition to; also transitive to utter by way of contradiction.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > speaking against or contradiction > speak against or contradict [verb (transitive)]
withsake971
withsayc1175
forbidc1275
withtellec1275
counterplead1377
again-saya1382
withsaya1382
contrary1382
countersay1393
withstand1513
transverse1532
cross1589
contradict1596
controvert1596
respire1629
scruple1639
contravene1722
oppugn1781
countervene1825
to stand down1869
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Judith i. 11 To alle these Nabugodonosor..sente messageres; the whiche alle with o wil withseiden.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xvi. 9 The false seiere is rered vp aȝen my face, withseiende to me.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 341 Whan Nestor hath his tale seid, Ayein him was no word withseid.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17288 + 11 In witnes þai ros with him,..For þe Iews suld not with-say þat gart to ded him bring.
a1400 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 355 Þat euerych bakere habbe hys seal y knowe vpon hys loff, þat he ne mowe wiþ-segge ȝif he is of take oþer þan weel.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) i. lxxiii. 48 I may not to that of no thing wel withseye.
1463 Cases bef. King's Council (Selden) 113 b Forasmoch as they withsey not by dedez and actez of their factours.
3. transitive. To speak or act against, oppose, resist; = gainsay v. 3; occasionally to say (a thing) in opposition. Also, to disallow, forbid. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)]
withgo743
to go again ——OE
withsayc1175
again-goc1275
withsitc1300
thwarta1325
to go against ——a1382
counter1382
repugnc1384
adversea1393
craba1400
gainsaya1400
movec1400
overthwart?a1425
to put (also set) one's face againsta1425
traversea1425
contrairc1425
to take again ——c1425
contraryc1430
to take against ——a1450
opposec1485
again-seta1500
gain?a1500
oppone1500
transverse1532
to come up against1535
heave at1546
to be against1549
encounter1549
to set shoulder against1551
to fly in the face of1553
crossc1555
to cross with1590
countermand1592
forstand1599
opposit1600
thorter1608
obviate1609
disputea1616
obstrigillate1623
contradict1632
avert1635
to set one's hand against1635
top1641
militate1642
to come across ——1653
contrariate1656
to cross upon (or on)1661
shock1667
clash1685
rencounter1689
obtend1697
counteract1708
oppugnate1749
retroact?1761
controvert1782
react1795
to set against ——1859
appose-
the mind > language > statement > speaking against or contradiction > speak against or contradict [verb (transitive)]
withsake971
withsayc1175
forbidc1275
withtellec1275
counterplead1377
again-saya1382
withsaya1382
contrary1382
countersay1393
withstand1513
transverse1532
cross1589
contradict1596
controvert1596
respire1629
scruple1639
contravene1722
oppugn1781
countervene1825
to stand down1869
society > authority > subjection > prohibition > prohibit [verb (transitive)]
forwarnc893
warnc893
forbidOE
forhightc1315
defendc1325
forfend1382
dischargec1450
prohibit?a1475
bidc1475
withsay1484
fenda1500
abara1504
prohibit1526
debara1529
forbodec1540
exempt1553
forspeak1565
disbar1567
forsay1579
enjoin1589
abjudicate1602
countermanda1616
forjudge1675
restrict1766
oppose1814
fen1823
embargo1824
nix1903
ixnay1937
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 17826 Fele þede modiliȝ. Wiþþ stodenn. & wiþþ seȝȝdenn..heffness lihht.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 139 Bi þo daȝes luuede herodes..his broðer wif, and binam hire him, and Seint Iohan hit wið seide.
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 91 Hwonne þe schil & te heorte ne wið siggeð nout.
c1275 Passion our Lord 422 in Old Eng. Misc. 49 Eueruych mon þat makeþ hym king..He wyþ-seyþ cesare.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 160 Þat no man dar wiþ-seie hem in here wrong.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 312 Ther mai noman his happ withsein.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 805 Who so wole my Iuggement withseye.
?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 43v That ther be not oon man that is so hardy to withsaye ony thynge contrarye to my will.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) cxxxiii. 175 I defende and withsaye to them the kyssyng.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) xxix. 50 He was..patron of the parysshe, And the parson durst not withsaye hym.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cclxxxiv. 174/1 I may nat nor dare nat withsay yor noble pleasure.
a1529 J. Skelton Speke Parrot in Poet. Wks. (1843) II. 20 Moloc, that mawmett, there darre no man withsay.
4.
a. To refuse to do or perform. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > refuse to do something
warnc900
withsaya1225
wondec1315
refusea1325
denya1400
nayc1400
recusec1425
renayc1489
renounce1582
disclaim1586
to draw the line1839
a1225 Juliana 26 Ȝet tu maht ȝef þu wult burhen þe seoluen, ant ȝef þu mare wiðseist [etc.].
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 175 Þeo..wið seggeð þe grant þer of wið an wille heorte.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7689 To hom þat wolde is wille do debonere he was & milde & to hom þat wiþsede strong tirant & wilde.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Prol. 367 Or hym was bodyn make thilke tweye Of sum persone & durste it not with-seye.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. ciiij/1 Gladly he wolde haue doo the bataylle yf he had not wythsayed it..whan he was requyred.
b. To decline to give, grant, or allow; to refuse. Also with dative of person (sometimes without direct object).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)]
warnc897
willeOE
forbidc1000
warnc1000
willOE
asake1250
withsay1297
gainsayc1330
recusea1387
naitc1390
to say naya1393
again-say?a1400
denyc1400
withnayc1400
biwern1413
refuse?1435
resist1539
detrect1542
renege1545
detract1572
waive1642
declinea1691
nay-say1762
nay-saya1774
nix1903
off1908
ixnay1937
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4920 + 6 Þe byssop yt nolde grante ac outlych yt wyþ seyde.
a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 2905 Homage nolde hym non wiþsaye.
1402 T. Hoccleve Let. of Cupid 108 She..So lyberal ys, she wol no wyght with-sey.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 32 She..Halsethe and kissethe and wol hym not with-seyne.
c1475 Partenay 86 No man shall ther-of you werne ne withsay.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xiv. 204 I will in no wise with-sey that ye requere.
?1530 St. German's Dyaloge Doctoure & Student vi. f. xiii I wyll not withsaye thy desyre.
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 42v Thanke youre selfe, whiche woulde haue me rather faulte..than..withsay your request.
c1650 (a1500) Eger & Grime (Percy) (1933) 232 Soe he desired that sword soe bright that shee was loth to with say that Knight.
1661–85 in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 372 This is in noe wise to bee withsaid, for it is the King's honour.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > speaking against or contradiction > [noun] > one who
withsayerc1420
gainsayer1435
again-sayerc1449
contradictor1599
oblocutor1603
contradictist1630
disassertor1651
contradictionist1890
c1420 Wycliffite Bible Pref. Ep. iii. 63 The withseieris to withstonde [L. contradicentes revincere].
c1450 Godstow Reg. 267 All withseyers and attemptours to breke this writyng.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.c1315v.c960