withspeak

Meaning

To speak against; contradict.

Etymology

Cognate with Old Frisian: withspreka

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: wierspreeke

Cognate with Dutch: weerspreken

Cognate with German: widersprechen

In summary

A revival of Middle English withspeken (“to speak against, contradict”), from Old English wiþsprecan (“to contradict, gainsay, revile”), from Proto-West Germanic *wiþisprekan, equivalent to with- + speak. Cognate with Old Frisian withspreka (“to disagree”), Saterland Frisian wierspreeke (“to contradict”), Dutch weerspreken (“to contradict”), German widersprechen (“to contradict, gainsay”).