allay

views updated May 23 2018

allay †lay aside OE.; put down, repress; appease, assuage XIV; dilute, temper XV; mitigate XVII. OE. āleċġan, ME. aleggen, superseded by aleien, alay (see A-2, LAY1). The sense-development has been infl. by formal assoc. with OF. alegier lighten (see ALLEVIATE) and aleier, aloier temper, qualify (see ALLOY).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

allay

views updated May 17 2018

al·lay / əˈlā/ • v. [tr.] diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry): the report attempted to allay fears. ∎  relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger).

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

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