withsay

Meanings

1. To speak against someone or something.
2. To contradict or deny.
3. To gainsay, to oppose in speech (and by extension writing).
4. To forbid, to refuse to allow, give, or permit.
5. To decline, to refuse to do or accept.

Etymology

From Middle English withseien, from Old English wiþseċġan (“to speak against; to denounce, renounce, or deny”), corresponding to with- + say. Cognate with Old Saxon witharseggian (“to object”), Low German wedderseggen (“to renounce”), German widersagen (“to renounce”), Dutch wederzeggen and weerzeggen.