gainsaying

plural gainsayings

1. Opposition, especially in speech.

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

   1903, American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, Baptist missionary magazine: Volume 83

   1 more example

   Wee'le part the time betweene's then: and in that Ile no gaine-saying. […]

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

2. Refusal to accept or believe something.

   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 [...]

   1859, Henry Alford, The Greek Testament

3. Contradiction.

   There is no gainsaying this logic.

   1969, Robert Lisle Lindsey, A Hebrew translation of the Gospel of Mark

4. Denial; denying.

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

   1887, The Rose of Paradise

5. archaicobsoleteRebellious opposition; rebellion.

   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.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jude 11

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of gainsay