daresay
UK[ˌdeəˈseɪ]US[ˌderˈseɪ]
v
To think that something is probably true or likely to happen, used especially when you are giving your opinion in a careful or hesitant way.
Morpheme Breakdown
dare
say
dare
to have courage, venture, presume.
say
to utter, tell, speak.
Etymology
The word 'daresay' is a contraction of the Middle English phrase "I dare say," a fossilized expression where 'dare' retained its older sense of "venture" or "presume." This phrase functioned as a polite or cautious hedge, literally meaning "I venture to assert," allowing the speaker to express an opinion while softening its force. Over time, the phrase fused into a single lexical verb, losing the personal pronoun but retaining its core function of expressing a tentative belief or assumption. Its evolution exemplifies how common conversational phrases can grammaticalize into fixed verbs with specific pragmatic nuances.
Analysis
Structure: dare + say
- dare: From Old English durran, meaning "to have courage, venture, presume." It is a verb indicating boldness or challenge.
- say: From Old English secgan, meaning "to utter, tell, speak." It is a verb indicating the act of speaking.
Examples
I daresay you're right about the weather turning colder.
He's not here yet, but I daresay he'll arrive soon.
It's a difficult task, I daresay, but not an impossible one.