Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gainsaying” come from?

Gainsaying comes from Middle English gainsayen, a verb meaning to contradict or deny.

gainsaying (English): Opposition, especially in speech; Refusal to...

Definitions

  1. Opposition, especially in speech; Refusal to...

Ancestry of “gainsaying”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgaynesayenge—
Every word from Middle English gaynesayenge →