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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Say, Sa, v.¹ Also: saye, sai(e)-, saii-, sae; sey, se; saine, sayn(e, sane, say(i)th, sayeth, sene. P.t. and p.p. said(e, sayd(e, sayit, -id, -ed; sad(e, saed, seid, seyd, sed(e, sedde, sead, seyden. [ME and e.m.E. seggen (c1175), sai, sayne (both Cursor M.), seyen (c1300), sayen (a1547), etc. Pres. t. 2nd pers. seist (c1175), seggesst (Orm), sais (Cursor M.), 3rd pers. seied (a1175), seȝȝþ (Orm), seyþ (a1250). P.t. seide (c1175), seȝȝde (Orm), sade (c1200), said (a1352). P.p. iseit (c1175), ysed (1297), said (Cursor M.), etc. OE secgan (pres. t 2nd pers. segest, sægst, 3rd pers. segeð, sægð, p.t. sægde, p.p. (ge)-sægd, (ge)-sǽd.See also Said ppl. adj. and Said verb phr.]

1. tr. To utter, pronounce or articulate (an utterance); to utter (a word or words, a saying, etc.). Chiefly followed by direct quotation of the words uttered.Also to say nocht; to sa sorow = to mourn.(1) pres. a1400 Leg. S. xix 516.
This cane thai sa sorofully, ‘Gais [etc.]’ Ib. xxvii 1127.
Sanct Machor … Sayand, ‘A wis man sad wmquhill, Sek na heyere thing than [etc.]’ Ib. xxxiii 501.
Thane sais the wich, ‘Gyf [etc.]’ c1460 Consail Vys Man 108.
Quhen ony thing he chargis thé Say nocht, ‘I wat it wyll nocht bee’ c1460 Bk. Gude Counsale 197.
Sanct Dauid sais in haly prophecy, ‘The man is blissit that dois bayth dome et law’ a1500 Henr. Fab. 750 (Bann.).
Thus gait cowth he sane [: agane; v.rr. sayne], ‘Ga doun Schir Kid’ a1500 Rauf C. 46.
He sayis, ‘Men callis me Rauf Coilȝear' 1490 Irland Mir. I 26/34.
Nane suld say ‘My fadere,’ bot he that is his natural sone a1500 Seven S. 2782.
Says all, ‘Amen for cherite’ Ib. 361.
Saye c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 158/3.
I dremed ane angell came fra hevin With plesand stevin sayand on hie, ‘Telȝouris and sowtaris, blist be ȝe' 1513 Doug. xi ix 34.
Now baldly says he, ‘Citezanys haue doyn’ 1569 Bann. Memor. 7.
He begynis with a stuir … voice, and sayis, ‘I praise my God grittumlie [etc.]’ a1578 Pitsc. II 65/9.
As quhene Dawid sayith, ‘I thocht [etc.]’p.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 2885.
‘Schir,’ said the child [etc.] Ib. 7092.
And courtasly, forouttin hone, He said, ‘For ane sicht [etc.]’ c1400 Troy-bk. ii 27 (C).
‘Bot God,’ seyd he in-to that stryve, ‘Myght (he) be mayd sekyr of hys lyve!’ c1420 Wynt. iv 2139.
A Roman … Till Silla sayde apon this wyis [etc.] Ib. viii 915.
‘Be Goddis blud,’ he sayd, ‘yhe sang’ a1500 Seven S. 654.
In secrete said he to the quene, ‘Madame gif ȝe desyre [etc.]' 1513 Doug. xi iii 17.
And forthir eik onto thame thus he said [: onglaid], ‘O Latyn folkis [etc.]’ a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 113/10.
He brak the breid and said, ‘Tak ȝe and eit' 1562-3 Winȝet II 55/6, 7.
He [sc. Timothy] sayd nocht, the antiquiteis, he sayd nocht, the thingis haldin of hald a1568 Maitland Bann. MS 13a/107.
‘This helper … Hes cawsit me transgres,' Sayd scho 1579 Acts III 176/2.
I [sc. Atholl] said in Yrishe to him [sc. Argyle], putting my hand to my breist, ‘The wrang I haue gottin is in this pairt’(b) a1400 Leg. S. i 249.
He sad on hicht, that all mycht heyre, ‘Pece be till ȝow' Ib. 482, etc.
Than the pupill sad he till, ‘Gyf he liffis [etc.]’ a1500 K. Hart 831.
Thairwith come Eis, sad, ‘I sit warme and hait [etc.]’(2) pres. a1400 Leg. S. vii 717.
In harte thai had sike wgrines, That thai had no word for to say 1513 Doug. iv v 98.
Sa to hym thus my wordis on syk wys Ib. xi xiii 80. 15.. Clar. ii 150.
And with them passit brocht againe Rose water cleir, doing thir wordis saine, ‘I am callit [etc.]’p.t. a1400 Leg. S. i 11.
Criste … sad til hyme this wourd c1400 Troy-bk. ii 835 (D).
To quhome Eccuba … Said [C. Seyd] to him with full yrous chere Suche lyke wordis … ‘O felloun tratour [etc.]’p.p. a1500 Seven S. 493.
Quhen Bantillas had said that sawe c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 146.
Quhen that the semely had said hir sentence to end 1533 Boece 160.
Quhen thir wourdis war sade a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 115/1.
Quhat planar vordis culd the apostil hef said(3) c1420 Ratis R. 1048.
Gyf thai twa sais thé nocht bot nay, I pray thé vryth thi wyll away a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 17/46.
Of meit and drink sayid neuer nay(4) a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 780.
He that slew his wife yesterday may sit and sa sorow on hir this day

b. Of the law, writing, etc.: To pronounce, state (something specified). Cf. 2 b. 1456 Hay I 109/6.
And the lawis sais, ‘Quod morte moriatur [etc.]’ 1488 Treas. Acc. I 87.
There was a writ fund … sayand: In hac boxa [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS 57/2.
For the writ sayis In eternum [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 119/29.
Conforme to his vord saynge, ‘He that eatis my flesche [etc.]’

2. To declare or state (a fact or opinion) in speech or writing (to another or with indirect object). a. With a clause (introduced by that or (bot) gif (= whether, unless), or with ellipsis of that) as object.Also with noun phrase and infin. as object, rendering L. accus. and infin.(1) pres. 1375 Barb. vii 250.
‘Schyr perfay,’ Quod the gud-wyff, ‘I sall ȝow say The king Robert the Bruys is he [etc.]' a1400 Leg. S. iii 1093.
And say this bischope als that schow … Is the fende in wemanis schape Ib. vi 152.
Thar-for sais to me now fyrste, Gyfe ȝe forout corrupcione Of flesche kepit myn benysone Ib. xxxvi 661.
Of his halynes als sais vs The doctoure Crisostomus That [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i 254.
Sais … to the king Bot gif he succour ws in hy All dede in Gaderis mon we ly 1456 Hay I 262/19.
Gif a man cummys till a merchand … , and sais him that his fader aucht him a thousand nobleis [etc.] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 167.
I say yow in certane He salbe set agane 1513 Doug. iii vi 53.
First say I thé, that twichand Italy [etc.] 1583–4 Inverness Rec. I 294.
That William … accusit Edwart … opinlie in fensit curt, saing to him that [etc.]p.t. a1400 Leg. S. xix 163.
Fore myn maystere, the feynd, sade me That prince oure al the warld is he c1400 Troy-bk. ii 700 (C).
The Gregeois … Seyd to Pryame that pas wald thai To Thenadone(2) pres. 1375 Barb. xi 419.
Sayand, that nother dede na dreid Till sic discomfort suld thaim leid, That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 1.
Catone sais … that idilnes giffis novrysingis to vicis Ib. xxii 786.
Sume men sais he crabyt is 1391 Red Bk. Menteith I 160.
Saiand that he had [etc.] 1401 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 8.
At the quilk acord he sayis he wald be gladly 1419 Wemyss Chart. 45. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 41 (B). 1456 Hay I 200/28.
I say, treuly he awe to save his lyf and defend him a1500 Henr. Fab. 102.
For wyfis sayis that lukand werk is licht Ib. 2971.
Gif that ony speiris [etc.] … Say thow, I left the laif vnto the freiris a1500 Seven S. 1639.
Say ȝe nocht this clerk ill him bure That [etc.] 1497 Acta Conc. II 75.
The quhilk schiref execut and indorsat the sade letter, sayand on the bak of it that [etc.] 1513 Doug. xi viii 159.
Thai say, allon me challancis Ene 1535 Stewart 49487.
Men wald say I sa this for invy 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 330.
Saye 1560 Rolland Seven S. 683 (see Said verb phr.). a1568 Bann. MS 257b/63.
Men sayis als gud luve cumis as gois 1596 Dalr. I 47/33.
Sum says it is a mater that wirkes out of the stanes 1601 Elgin Rec. II 96.
Thomas Symond, cutlar, … sayis that he … sayins the barne with the saying ‘In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, etc.’(b) c1420 Ratis R. 152.
And thow may nocht asonȝe thé And sa for caus it suld swa be 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 141.
And thai sae that daye wyll be in Scotland or Sateruris day(c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 3098.
The Grekis he sayis … Entered nocht at the brokin wall … For of the hors no mencioun He maid … Bot Vergill of the hors of bras, As Dytes seis, he sais it was. Bot Dares sayis that [etc.] a1570-86 Hudson Maitl. F. 448/10.
Thow quho knawis his birth his lyfe his end Mey sey his saull to lesting lyfe is send c1580 Q. Mary in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 9.
Nau seeth that he vnderstood not be yowr sister that [etc.](d) 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 133.
At thar bene mony goddis I wil not sane [: remane]p.t. and p.p. a1400 Leg. S. i 83.
He sad, he subuertit nocht c1400 Troy-bk. ii 95 (C).
He seyd, the Gregeois thynges two Asked Ib. 1020.
Inne hye thame answered than Calchas And seyden that [etc.] c1420 Wynt. ii 255.
For-thi thai sayde that scho thare wes Amang thare goddys as a goddes 1490 Irland Mir. I 23/16.
Arrius the gret herretik said and teichit that [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 101/48.
He stinckett lyk a tyk sum saed 1515 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 156.
And thair in presens foirsaid the said Flemyngis [pr. Flemyng is] alledgit and sayit that the bill gevin vpoun thame was nocht of veritie 1548 Cal. Sc. P. I 172.
For dyverse tymes ye have seid you wolde be glad to speke with your sonne my lord 1596 Dalr. I 136/3.
And without doubte thay sayd walde be, gif he did 1607 Soc. Ant. XI 414.
Sayed(3) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1276.
Sayand … Troyes oost to haue venquest bene

b. Of a law, writing, proverb and the like: To state. 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 294.
This endenture made … betuixt Alexander of Irwyne … on a part and John Moigne … on the tothir part saies [etc.] 1456 Hay I 158/21.
The law writtin sais that quhen were is decernit [etc.] 1549 Compl. 108/12.
Ther is ane ald prouerb that says that ane herand damysele and ane spekand castel sal neuyr end vith honour 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 14.
Saiis 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 181.
Thair is na law that sayis that Frenchmennis gudis … shall [etc.] 14.. Acts (1566) To the Reader iij.

c. With an indirect question as object. ?1438 Alex. ii 2230.
Thy suith-fastnes sais [F. dites vérité] to ȝour king Quhare ȝe think maist to lufe lelely Ib. 2476.
Schir sayis me … Quhat tua thingis dois ȝow to dre Sorrow and pane c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2786.
As was said long before gone by … How Achilles [etc.] 1513 Doug. iii ix 96.
For quhow grysly and how gret I ȝou sayn Lurkis Polyphemus

d. With noun, pronoun, phrase or infinitive as object.See also Said verb phr.(1) pres. 1375 Barb. v 620.
Thow may say quhat thow will on fer a1400 Leg. S. i 512.
For thu leis all that thu sais ?1438 Alex. ii 2252.
My sueit dam Ydory Sais sum comfort now in hy! Ib. 9415.
And quha forsuith suld the richt sane [: mane] 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
The burgesis of the burgh of Dunde sayand the contrare c1420 Ratis R. 783.
To say thé thar awys a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1181.
Say me ane chois a1500 Seven S. 673.
Scho said, ‘Say ȝe that in effek Thy hed sall gang than of thi nek' Ib. 2584.
This certanly scho syngis & sayis That ȝe sal me the basyng hald 1513 Doug. xi ix 36.
Sittand at eys ilkane say his entent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3219.
He slew his mother creuellye … Sum sayis to be at lybertie Sum sayis for hir adultrie 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4450.
Quhat wald ȝe say gif [etc.] Ib. 8393.
Weil war he all his dayis That vnderstude quhat ȝone bird singis or sayis 1562-3 Winȝet II 76/26.
Thir ar the wordis of ws al; we al says the samyn 1563 Ferg. Answer in 1563-72 Tracts 11.
Pope John … left behind him … more aboundance of gold as sayeth Baptista Platyna nor any … did before him, some sayth 25 mylȝeon 1596 Dalr. I 63/27.
Of the fishes, how copious thair thay ar, I neid to say naything(b) 1513 Doug. i vi 138 (Sm.).
Venus na mair [L. plura] sufferit him plene nor sa [: Asya] Ib. iii iii 13 (C).
‘That thing,’ quod thai, ‘quhilk Apollo wald sa [: Ortygia]’ a1538 Abell 18a.
Thow sall se at it is trew at we sa(c) 1513 Doug. i Prol. 219.
Enewch tharof, now will I na mor sayn [: agane]p.t. and p.p. 1375 Barb. xii 477.
Quhen this wes said that er said I a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 79.
& of his modire syne sad I Sume thing a1500 Rauf C. 315.
That I haue said I sall hald 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 69.
And in it that the kingis hienes sal mak be sade to thame in that mater 1550 Corr. M. Lorraine 339.
He to mak ansur till ony thing that ma be sedde to hym off resson 1566 Q. Mary in Inv. Q. Mary xxxii n.
Wat euer bis sayed bi sur off my gud mynd 1570 Sat. P. xix 99.
Christ hes it sed c1695 Anal. Scot. I 154.
I … sayed no more(2) a1400 Leg. S. xl 276.
For ocht that he cuth sa ore do ?1438 Alex. i 2314.
Betys … thinkis to defend him sa That he nouther skaith sall do nor sa c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 66/67.
Unquyt I do no thing nor sane [: vane]

e. To here say. See Her(e v. 2 c for further examples. 1375 Barb. iv 763.
Man is in-to dreding ay Of thingis that he has herd say a1400 Leg. S. xv 84.
And quhen the paianis hard this sa [: ay] Thai sad ‘sik merwal neuir befel As [etc.]’ a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 89.
Robene, thow hes hard soung and say, … ‘The man that [etc.]’ 1533 Bell. Livy I 53/7.
I here say that Ciuilius … was ane grete occasioun of this batall 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 68.
Quhowe beid I heir sayeand large report cumin in this partis be dyvers marchandis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 566.
Arristotyll nor Plato, I heir sane [: Italiane], Wrait nocht … In Duche nor Dence [etc.]

f. Quasi-impers., in the passive, with following clause, also noun, etc., complement specifying what is stated.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 359 (C).
For-quhy it sall be seyd but lese That [etc.] Ib. 590.
The which is sooth syth as it is Inne-to proverbe seyd oft I-wys 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 94.
Ther is ane Scottis man callit Sanders Prinille, and is [sic] it is sede betrasit all the men off the Mers 1568 Q. Mary in Ellis Orig. Lett. 1 Ser. II (1824) 253.
It is sed Seterday my unfrinds wil bi v[i]th ȝou 1666 Laing MSS 351.
Ther is that to be sead which I should heve bein gled to heve hard from you(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2242.
Tharfor the towne Was in-to pece—gif it mycht be Said pece in suche aduersite

3. To give a recommendation, instruction or command (to (till) a person or with indirect object) (to do something). Const. noun clause with subjunctive verb or with suld. a1400 Leg. S. i 220.
And quhen myn moder sad me till … I suld ga To schere hire corne … I did as myn moder saide [: lade p.t. of lay v.] c1400 Troy-bk. i 49.
Quharfor he bad me to ȝow say That ȝe in hast hald hyne ȝour way 1513 Doug. v xii 94.
Syk cummyrryt wightis suffir, I thé say, To haue ane hald and dwel heir

4. ellipt. or absol. In uses of prec. senses: To declare or state; to recommend or instruct. a. With the adverbs sa (so), sic, thus(gat). a1400 Leg. S. i 430.
He … thusgat sade, ‘Nero [etc.]’ c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1192 (C).
And vther prynces … Apponed ageynes Vlixes, Seyand thus that [etc.] Ib. 2095.
He left behynd him in his steid This Egra—the buke sayis thus—And a sone [etc.] 1456 Hay I 144/11.
Rycht thus say we of testament, and thingis left to men be testament a1500 Henr. Fab. 750 (Bann.) (see 1 (1) pres. above). c1475 Wall. ix 25.
For thus myn auctor sayis a1500 Seven S. 43.
Quhen Amipullus had said thus Than [etc.] Ib. 1093.
Scho said ‘My deir quhy say ȝe sa?' c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 26/31.
With petous voce thus cuth I sene [: pleyne] Id. Tua Mar. W. 306.
Sa sais the curat of our kirk 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 156.
Says nocht ȝour sentens thus, … ‘Quhat honeste … is tobe dram?' 1535 Stewart 1422.
So my author sais 1551 Hamilton Cat. 101.
Sanct Paul sais thus [etc.] 1559 Inverness Rec. I 35.
For the injurius vordis saing to the said Anne … and gyf he beys fundyn saing sic to onne nychtbor wyf in tyme cuming [etc.]

b. In clauses introduced by as (efter as, that). Also passive. Also const. to a person or with indirect object.active (1) a1400 Leg. S. i 23.
As the buk sais [: betraise] Ib. 127 (see c below). c1420 Wynt. ii 1070.
The wattyre off Jordane in his dayis Was dry, as the story sayis 1460 Hay Alex. 3369.
As I said before a man wourthy Is worth ane hundreth in sic ane ieopardy 1535 Stewart 29931.
This beand done, as ȝe haif hard me sa [: wa (= way)] Ib. 41159.
The land[is] liand all In Cuninghame, that my author did sa 1541 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. ix (Scott v. Scott & M^cDowall).
The lard of Howpaslot left ay ane to keip the feild as thai say c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6032.
Than sall one fyre, as clerkis sane, Mak all the hyllis and valais plane 1563 Ferg. Answer in Tracts 11 (see 2 d (1) pres. above). 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Haimsuken.
As we say, ane man is at hame, or not at hameproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 176.
As the gude man sayis, sa say we, bot as the gude wife will al mon be(2) 1375 Barb. i 136.
On this maner assentyt war The barownis as I said ȝow ar Ib. xi 611.
At gret myscheiff as I ȝow say [: thai] a1400 Leg. S. i 130.
Gyf it sa be Of the pure man as thu sais me Ib. 202.
Than Petir his staff … bad hym … Lay it on his falow sowne, Than as he sad hym, he has downe Ib. 223 (see 3 above). c1475 Wall. viii 703.
Thai grantyt all, as Wodstok can thaim say Ib. ix 700.
Out off the toun as Scottis men till hym said, That serwandys oysyt with cartis hay to leid 1533 Gau 59/18.
Sua we may sa in al our aduersite as the propheit Heliseus said to his seruand, … ‘Be notht red [etc.]’ 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3686.
Gif ȝe will do efter as I ȝow saypassive(1) 1471 Acta Aud. 20/2.
Vnder silens of nycht as said is 1501 Stirlings of Keir 274.
Togidder with the laf … gevine in varandice thairof as said is 1513 Doug. ix vi 139. c1605 Black Bk. Taymouth 40.
The gallows … quhairof Alester M‘Gregour … himself wes mountit abone the laiff as said is(2) a1500 Colk. Sow i 431.
All this grit brawling … Wes for a pig as ȝe hard sayn c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 999.
As I hard sane

c. In parenthetic clauses.(a) a1400 Leg. S. i 125.
And sa this Petir here, I say, Hym-selfe will nocht helpe … , Bot, as men sais, has no kin dowt To thole for Criste as vnderlowte 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
A barge of werre garnyst with Inglischmen in certane & sum men sais of the Newcastell c1420 Wynt. ii 431.
For fra that to the hart he sayde Ane ewyn strekande wayne wes layde Ib. viii 3565.
Thai ware Schyre Adam Mwre, thai say, And Schyre Alexawndyre the Ramsay c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 207.
Ladie, I say ȝow in certane, Ȝe sall haue lufe for lufe agane Ib. 1403.
Was neuer man … Nocht Hercules, I dar weill say, That euer faucht better 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6633.
The knicht, I say ȝow sure, … is in my chalmer flure 1562-3 Winȝet II 7/30.
Raigeing I say, nocht only aganis our mother the haly, catholik kirk, bot [etc.] 1570 Sat. P. x 388.
‘Departit, oh!’ quod he, ‘and deid, I say ȝow' a1578 Pitsc. I 125/22.
[They] now haueand the oppertunitie, sais scho, of James absence a1605 Montg. Flyt. 169 (T).
Thow wes begottin, sum sayis to me, Betuix the devill and ane duin kow 1596 Dalr. I 61/23.
Another thing nocht vnlyke, he sayis, was seine, twa ȝeirs eftir this(b) 1571 Sat. P. xxix 28.
Evin as Meffan, his scuill maistre, thai se, schew him the way

5. intr. To impart (chiefly, spoken) information to or to address another or others in response to an invitation, etc. to do so or in one's turn; to speak, answer, tell. 1375 Barb. xix 159.
Sen ȝour willis is That I say, wyt ȝe sekyrly [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. vi 634.
Thane sad the kynge, ‘Me think that thu As pere & peyre sais to me now' ?1438 Alex. i 791.
I intromettit me neuer are In message for to do nor say Ib. ii 2076.
And I to say is richt ioyous [F. Et moy … du dire tous joious]! c1420 Ratis R. 904.
Quharfor bettir to be styll Than say vnknawandly thar-tyll c1420 Wynt. viii 2364.
For-thi chargyd than war thai, And fullyly instruct to say, And the grevys for to schawe To the Pape 14.. Burgh Laws c. 22 (A).
That thai sal nocht say for haterent of the ta part na lufrent of the tother part bot for the suthfastnes for to say c1450-2 Howlat 120 (A).
I can nocht say sudanelye … Bot I sall call my cardinallis and my counsall a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 409 (see Saw n.² 1 (2).) a1500 Peblis to Play 247.
My hony hart how sayis the sang a1500 Bk. Chess 97.
And all was one to saye be myne awys a1510 Aberd. Univ. Rev. XXXVI i 51 (see b (1) below). 1513 Doug. x ii 109.
The fader than omnipotent maist hie … Begouth to say and quhen he spak, all cessyt

b. With the adverbs hardely, il, schortlie, suthly, wele, describing the manner of speaking or the content or nature of what is said.Also Sayweill as an allegorical character, orig. after Piers Plowman.(1) 1375 Barb. vii 260.
I say ye soithly a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 370.
Certis, thu seis [L. dicis] ful il Quhene thu thaim callis dissawouris Ib. xix 516 (see 1 (1) pres. above). ?1438 Alex. ii 2289.
Quod the Bauderane, ‘Sais hardely!’ 1460 Hay Alex. 2169.
To say schortlie thair was bot few left haill a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 4.
Suthly to sane a1510 Aberd. Univ. Rev. XXXVI i 51.
Woman cane say ande gane say als [Ande] worde nocht reide thocht thai sa fals 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 18.
Treit wele Maxwell and sa wele to hym 15.. Clar. iii 1355.
He told him … Of all the weiris schortlie for to saine(2) 1567 G. Ball. 208.
Quhen say weill at sumtymes salbe brocht base, Do weill sall triumph in euerie place a1568 Bann. MS 52a/95.
Sayweill but doweill is nocht worth a straw

c. ? Nonce, const. as reflex. c1475 Wall. i 200.
For all to hym thar couth na man thaim say

6. To say (something) agan(is (in contrar), of (= concerning), on (= about), to (= in reference to), with (= in favour of, in accusation of) a person or thing. a. tr. b. intr.a. (1) 1496 Acta Conc. II 29.
As for ony civile accione that ony party has to say again thir persons, that [etc.] 1532–3 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 90.
Any clayme … Jhone Stevynsone hed to persow and say aganys hym(2) c1420 Wynt. vi 2169.
God off the Dewyll sayd … He is … a leare fals a1500 Henr. Fab. 1248.
Off this sentence, allace, quhat sall I say 1490 Irland Mir. II 66/16.
Gret is the dignite and lovage that Sanct Johne sais of this haly spous of Jhesu 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 99.
Quhat sal I of this wondir warkis sayn?(3) 1456 Hay I 262/28.
Gif ony man wald say on ane othir that he had [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9177.
I am saikles of ȝone he sayis on me(4) 1478 Binns P. (SRS) 7.
Gif the said George has oucht to say to the said oxin to persew thaim as law willb. (1) 1496 Acta Conc. II 19.
The saide Wilȝeam had na place til impung the sade assignacione nor say agane the sammyn 1532 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) p. 5 (Betoun v. Melville).
To obiect or say aganis the said assis 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 27. 1558 Inverness Sheriff Ct. 38.
Na parte comperit to obiect nor say in contrar the personis of inqueist c1575 Balfour Pract. 383. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 55b.
The king will that it sall not be lesome to the inferiour court to say against that record(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 266.
Of al payne, That men ma of think or sayne c1400 Troy-bk. ii 188 (C).
Of which ȝow till I shall ȝow sey, if that ȝe will(3) 1641 Justiciary Cases II 447.
Except the pannell wold pas from the repledgiatioun or say to it presentlie quhilk he hes done(4) 1622-6 Bisset I 286.
The judge sall gar raise ane unlaw … of ilk soyttoure that sayd with the dome that is falsed

7. (To be) alsmekle to say as, to be equivalent to, to mean the same as. b. That (also quhilk) is (als mekill) (for) to say (as), thay ar to say, to wit, namely. 1494 Loutfut MS 18a.
And that cat in Grece is als mekle to say as ingenious in Fraunche c1515 Asl. MS I 313/24.
Ysaac is alsmekle to say as lauching 1513 Doug. Comm. i Prol. 97.
Innatyve is alsmekil to say as inborn 1563 Davidson Answer 192.
For that war als mekle to say as [etc.]b. (1) 1375 Barb. iii 100.
Makyne Drosser, That is al-so mekill to say her As the Durwarth sonnys 1533 Boece 98b.
Julis hoff als mekill to say as the hall or clois of Julius 1540 Lynd. Sat. 225 (B).
Tanquam tabula rasa Quhilk is als mekill for till sae Rady for gud and ill(2) 1385 Rot. Sc. II 73/1.
The forsayd lordes are acordit in specialte as efter folowes that is for to say, The erle of Northumbr' [etc.] c1390 Reg. Morton I xl.
Beistis … of syndri eildis and syndri hewis that is to say blak broun rede and braundit 1395 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
That is to say that the forsayd Robert sal [etc.] 1400 Ib. No. 7.
Thir witnes that is to say Sir Wilȝame of Dissynton … Sir Water Olyfand [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii 825. 14.. Acts I 711/2. 1456 Hay I 255/35.
In lissis that is to say in barreris a1500 Bk. Chess 2074.
Saye 1533 Boece 53.
Cantere, quhilk is to say the hede and hiechest part of the erde 1549 Glasgow Test. I 49b.
I leyff all my half of my hous to byde about my hous that is to say the insycht … to remane 1564–5 Glasgow Prot. III 66.
The heicht hows, that is to say with hall, chalmer of deis, and the heycht loftis(3) 1569–70 Canongate Ct. Bk. 175.
The annuelrentis following … Thay ar to say ane annuelrent of twentie pundis [etc.] 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 199.
The remanent subjectis of this realme, thay ar to say Capitane James Bruce, Johnne Hammiltoun [etc.] 1587 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 438.
Landis … layand withtin the burght of Aberdene they ar to say [etc.]

8. tr. To tell or speak (the truth). Also in the parenthetic phrase (the) suth to say. Also const. indirect object.(1) 1375 Barb. x 298.
Giff I the suth sall say a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 747.
Thai sad hyme the suth alswith Ib. xix 136.
Or thu gange away, Alhale the suth I sal thé say ?1438 Alex. ii 2442.
Say me the suth without lesing c1475 Wall. vi 451.
Do tary nocht it is suth I thé say a1500 Seven S. 1657.
Suth said he c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 157.
I sall say furth the south 15.. Clar. ii 840.
The suith if I sould saine(2) a1500 Seven S. 1837.
Thai war the sagis suth to saye That [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 198.
The salt was all the sarar suth to sayn [: rayn, slayn] 1513 Doug. ii ii 103.
Sayn 15.. Clar. ii 322.
Thay him prayit … to remaine With tham, quhilke he grantit, the suth to saine a1568 Scott xxiii 34.
Sen scho hes nowthir rewth Nor mercy suth to sane [: agane]

9. To speak of, mention. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1883.
To se the maner certanely Of the gold at the letter said

10. a. To relate, esp. out loud (a story, message, etc.), to deliver in speech. 1375 Barb. i 4.
And thai [sc. stories] war said on gud maner a1400 Leg. S. iii 292.
Goddis word thar to say Ib. xii 17.
[The wife] quhene scho vaknyt can it [sc. a dream] say Til hyre howsband that by hir lay a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 137.
I am send … ane charge for to say c1475 Wall. xi 1214.
Master Barbour … said the Bruce amang his othir werk a1586 Lindsay MS 17b.
He suld … say his legatioun or gif his lettres

b. To repeat or recite (a mass, prayers, etc.). Also absol. c. Of schoolchildren: To recite (a lesson) from memory.b. a1400 Leg. S. vii 68.
The fyrste he was That euire be-guth to sa messe Ib. xxii 674.
He suld ilke day say the bed 1481 Misc. Spald. C. II 324. 1490 Irland Mir. I 42/3.
Sayand, ‘Fiat voluntas tua [etc.]’ 1501 Treas. Acc. II 71.
To ane preist said mes to the king a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 318.
Thou sais for thame few psaltris, psalmis or credis 1530 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 36.
Dauid Duly tailyour … past to Sanct Gelis kirk quhilk was Sonday and thair said mes 1533 Boece 479b.
The Houris of the glorios Virgine … to be daly sade 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 252.
I gat no tyme … To saye In Manus Tuas Domine c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 565.
With beidis in hand, crosand and sayand creid a1578 Pitsc. I 249/5.
That he that aught the house … sould say the grace and blise the meate Ib. II 143/27.
Thair durst nocht ane mese be said in Scotlandabsol. ?1438 Alex. ii 433.
Quhen he had said, ane sleip he tais a1500 Henr. Fab. 836.
To sing or say for thy saluatioun 1490 Irland Mir. I 56/31.
We haue said, prait, askit and desirit 1525 (1527) Reg. Great S. 96/1.
To the honest sustentatioun of ane chaplane daylie to sing and say at the said altar 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 382.c. 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 465.
They who learns Latein most have a pense of that quhilk they have learned before to saye everie morning

11. tr. and intr. (To) say furth, say (sais) on, (to) speak out, say (what one has to say). Chiefly imperative.(1) c1475 Wall. xi 471.
‘Sa furth,’ quoth he c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 157 (see 8 (1) above). 1513 Doug. i Prol. 478.
Quha can do bettir sa furth in Goddis name(2) 1375 Barb. xii 199 (C).
Tharfor sais on ȝour will planly ?1438 Alex. ii 2435.
Dame Fesonas say on ȝour thocht! Ib. 5979.
‘Now say on smertly!’ said the king 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 136.
Schir, say on