What is "it is said"

Say \Say\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Said (s[e^]d), contracted from sayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Saying.] [OE. seggen, seyen, siggen, sayen, sayn, AS. secgan; akin to OS. seggian, D. zeggen, LG. seggen, OHG. sag[=e]n, G. sagen, Icel. segja, Sw. s["a]ga, Dan. sige, Lith. sakyti; cf. OL. insece tell, relate, Gr. 'e`nnepe (for 'en-sepe), 'e`spete. Cf. Saga, Saw a saying.]

1. To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things.

   Arise, and say how thou camest here.
   --Shak.

2. To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to say a lesson.

   Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated In what thou hadst to say?
   --Shak.

   After which shall be said or sung the following hymn.
   --Bk. of Com. Prayer.

3. To announce as a decision or opinion; to state positively; to assert; hence, to form an opinion upon; to be sure about; to be determined in mind as to.

   But what it is, hard is to say.
   --Milton.

4. To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or approximation; hence, to suppose; -- in the imperative, followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles.

   Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double, Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?
   --Shak.

   It is said, or They say, it is commonly reported; it is rumored; people assert or maintain.

   That is to say, that is; in other words; otherwise.