gainsay
verb /ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/
/ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/
often used in negative sentences (formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they gainsay | /ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/ /ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/ |
| he / she / it gainsays | /ˌɡeɪnˈsez/ /ˌɡeɪnˈsez/ |
| past simple gainsaid | /ˌɡeɪnˈsed/ /ˌɡeɪnˈsed/ |
| past participle gainsaid | /ˌɡeɪnˈsed/ /ˌɡeɪnˈsed/ |
| -ing form gainsaying | /ˌɡeɪnˈseɪɪŋ/ /ˌɡeɪnˈseɪɪŋ/ |
- gainsay something to say that something is not true; to disagree with or deny something synonym deny
- Nobody can gainsay his claims.
- There is no gainsaying these facts.
Word OriginMiddle English: from obsolete gain- ‘against’ + say.