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Antonyms for say uncle


Grammar : Verb
Spell : uhng-kuh l
Phonetic Transcription : ˈʌŋ kəl



Definition of say uncle

Origin :
  • late 13c., from Old French oncle, from Latin avunculus "mother's brother," literally "little grandfather," diminutive of avus "grandfather," from PIE root *awo- "grandfather, adult male relative other than one's father" (cf. Armenian hav "grandfather," Lithuanian avynas "maternal uncle," Old Church Slavonic uji "uncle," Welsh ewythr "uncle").
  • Replaced Old English eam (usually maternal; paternal uncle was fædera), which represents the Germanic form of the root (cf. Dutch oom, Old High German oheim "maternal uncle," German Ohm "uncle").
  • Also from French are German, Danish, Swedish onkel. First record of Dutch uncle (and his blunt, stern, benevolent advice) is from 1838; Welsh uncle (1747) was the first cousin of one's parent. To say uncle as a sign of submission in a fight is North American, attested from 1909, of uncertain signification.
  • As in kowtow : verb grovel
  • As in assent : verb agree
  • As in relent : verb die down; let up
  • As in submit : verb comply, endure
  • As in cry uncle : verb to surrender
  • As in acquiesce : verb agree with some reluctance
  • As in concede : verb acknowledge, give in
  • As in consent : verb agree

Synonyms for say uncle

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019