Allay

Allay
Allay Al*lay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Allayed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Allaying}.] [OE. alaien, aleggen, to lay down, put down, humble, put an end to, AS. [=a]lecgan; [=a]- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + lecgan to lay; but confused with old forms of allege, alloy, alegge. See {Lay}.] 1. To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm; as, to allay popular excitement; to allay the tumult of the passions. [1913 Webster]

2. To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; as, to allay the severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity. [1913 Webster]

It would allay the burning quality of that fell poison. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate; subdue; destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet. See {Alleviate}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • allay — (v.) O.E. alecgan to put down, remit, give up, a Germanic compound (Cf. Goth. uslagjan, O.H.G. irleccan, Ger. erlegen), from a down, aside + lecgan to lay (see LAY (Cf. lay)). Early Middle English pronunciations of y and g were not always… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Allay — Al*lay , v. t. To diminish in strength; to abate; to subside. When the rage allays. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Allay — Al*lay , n. Alleviation; abatement; check. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Allay — Al*lay , n. Alloy. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Allay — Al*lay , v. t. To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate. [Archaic] Fuller. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • allay — I verb abate, alleviate, appease, assuage, blunt, calm, cause to be still, cause to subside, check, compose, constrain, control, curb, curtail, deaden, decrease, diminish, dull, hush, lenire, lessen, lighten, lull, minimize, mitigare, mitigate,… …   Law dictionary

  • allay — *relieve, alleviate, lighten, assuage, mitigate Analogous words: abate, lessen, *decrease, diminish: mollify, *pacify, appease: *moderate, temper Antonyms: intensify Contrasted words: *provoke, excite, stimulate: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • allay — has inflections allays, allayed, allaying …   Modern English usage

  • allay — [v] reduce something, usually a pain or a problem abate, alleviate, assuage, calm, compose, cool out*, decrease, ease, lessen, lighten, make nice*, mitigate, moderate, mollify, pacify, play up to*, pour oil on*, quiet, square, take the bite out* …   New thesaurus

  • allay — ► VERB 1) diminish or end (fear or concern). 2) alleviate (pain or hunger). ORIGIN Old English, «lay down or aside» …   English terms dictionary

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