Etymograph

English

gainsaying

Gainsaying comes from Middle English gaynesayenge.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gaynesayenge
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1610–1611gainsaying

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gaynesayenge
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1610–1611gainsaying

Earliest quotation: c. 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, The Winters Tale: “Wee'le part the time betweene's then: and in that…”

Formed from gainsay + -ing

Middle English gainsayen

English gainsay

Every English word from Middle English gaynesayenge

Today it means

noun Opposition, especially in speech.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Middle English gaynesayenge / gainsaying

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