allay

allay
verb Etymology: Middle English alayen, from Old English ālecgan, from ā- (perfective prefix) + lecgan to lay — more at abide, lay Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to subdue or reduce in intensity or severity ; alleviate <
expect a breeze to allay the heat
>
2. to make quiet ; calm <
trying to allay their fears
>
intransitive verb obsolete to diminish in strength ; subside Synonyms: see relieve

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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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