Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sayer” come from?

sayer (English) comes from English say, from English assay, from Middle English assay, from Anglo-Norman assaier, from Old French essai, from Late Latin exagium, from Latin exigō, from Latin agō — to drive.

sayer (English): One who says; one who makes announcements; a...

Definitions

  1. One who says; one who makes announcements; a...

Ancestry of “sayer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsayTo pronounce; To recite; To tell, either verbally...
2EnglishassayTrial, attempt; Examination and determination;...
3Middle EnglishassayExamining; investigation, looking into, research;...
4Anglo-NormanassaierAlternative form of essaier
5Old Frenchessaitrial
6Late Latinexagiumweight; weighing, testing on the balance;...
7Latinexigō—
8Latinagō—
9Proto-Italicagōdrive; push, impel; do, act
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “sayer”

  • doomsayer
  • doomsay
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →