Allay

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈleɪ/
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Alternative forms

• alay obsolete

Origin

From Middle English alayen, aleyen, aleggen, from Old English ālecgan ("to put, place, lay down, lay aside, throw down, give up, cease from, abandon; put down, allay, suppress, abolish, conquer, destroy, overcome, refute; lay upon, inflict, impose upon; diminish, take away, refuse, lessen, withhold"), from Proto-Germanic *uzlagjaną ("to lay down"), equivalent to - + lay. Cognate with German erlegen ("to impose, cause to succumb, kill"), Gothic (uslagjan, "to lay down"). In Middle English the word was identical to forms of allege and alloy, leading to much overlapping of senses.

Full definition of allay

Verb

1. (transitive) To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.to allay popular excitementto allay the tumult of the passions
2. (transitive) To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate.to allay the severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To subside, abate, become peaceful.
• 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Mark IV:And the wynde alayed, and there folowed a greate calme: and he sayde unto them: why are ye fearfull?
• ShakespeareWhen the rage allays.
4. (archaic) To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate.

Synonyms

• alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate; subdue; destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet

Noun