Definition of the word said

The word "said" in English is an Old English word that originated from the Old High German word "sedon," which meant "to sit." The Old English word was "segn," which also meant "to sit" and "signify" or "indicate." The Latin word "dicere," which meant "to say," also influenced the development of the word "said" in English. Over time, the form of the word "segn" changed in Old English. By the 12th century, it had become "segen," meaning "say," and eventually shortened to "sei(g)" in Middle English. It then evolved into the modern English word "sayd" in Early Modern English, which is where we get the modern form of the word "said." The use of "sayd" instead of "said" became increasingly common in Early Modern English texts, particularly in the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. This form of the word was in vogue for around a century until it fell out of favor by the end of the 18th century, with "said" once again becoming the preferred form. Today, the word "said" is widely used as a simple and neutral marker to indicate that someone is speaking in various forms of writing, from novels and newspaper articles to academic and legal texts. Its origins, however, may come as a surprise to some due to its deceptively unassuming appearance in the English language.