Gainsay is a verb that means to deny or contradict.

The combination of two Middle English words provides the basis of our word of the day. The word ‘gain’ means against, while ‘say’ has the same meaning it does today. To gainsay is to speak against something or someone.

As much as I don’t like to gainsay anyone arguing for the addition of donuts for our weekly meeting, I had to contradict Aurora’s claims about the nutritional value of apple fritters.