A bare assertion; an “ipse dixit.”
1804. If the Democrats’ say so could make Mr. Jefferson a Christian, he would long ago have been one of the greatest in our country.—The Balance, Oct. 30, p. 347/3 (Hudson, N.Y.). (Italics in the original.)
1844. How could they know that they had handled and hefted as many of the leaves as said [Joseph] Smith translated? Certainly on no other grounds than his “say so,” which is good for nothing.—D. P. Kidder, ‘Mormonism and the Mormons,’ p. 53 (N.Y.).
1852. Your own say-so will be enough for any honest white man.—James Weir, ‘Simon Kenton,’ p. 93 (Phila.).
1862. Have we had any such experience [of these gentlemen’s wisdom] that we can take it upon their bare say-so against the testimony of [experts]?—Mr. William P. Fessenden of Maine, U.S. Senate, March 27: Cong. Globe, p. 1400/1.
