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A.Word.A.Day--gainsay gainsay (GAYN-say) verb tr. To deny or contradict. [From Middle English gainsayen, from gain- (against), from Old English gegn- + sayen, from secgan (to say).] "With such a record, it's hard for anyone to gainsay the cynics. But as Inauguration Day approached, millions of Nigerians like Pambi again dared to hope for something better." Tom Masland, Fingers Crossed, Nigerians Are Inaugurating Their First Freely Elected President in 16 Years, Newsweek (New York), May 24, 1999. This week's theme: archaic words. X-Bonus Brasington's Ninth Law: A carelessly planned project takes three times longer to complete than expected; a carefully planned one will take only twice as long.

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