English

Noun

gainsaying ‎(plural gainsayings)

1. Opposition, especially in speech.
   • 1903, American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, Baptist missionary magazine: Volume 83:

     This gainsaying may take numberless forms: [...]

2. Refusal to accept or believe something.
   • 1859, Henry Alford, The Greek Testament::

     So that it is best to take this meaning here, and understand, that an oath puts an end to all gainsaying by confirming the matter one way, in which all parties consent [...]

3. Contradiction.
   • 1969, Robert Lisle Lindsey, A Hebrew translation of the Gospel of Mark:

     There is no gainsaying this logic.

4. Denial; denying.
   • 1887, The Rose of Paradise:

     But there was no gainsaying the wisdom of the advice which he had given me as to concealing the treasure.

5. (archaic or obsolete) Rebellious opposition; rebellion.
   • 1611, King James Bible, Jude verse 11:

     Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Related terms

• gainsaw

Translations

Etymology 2

From gainsay.

Verb

gainsaying

1. present participle of gainsay