allay

allay
allayer, n.
/euh lay"/, v.t., allayed, allaying.
1. to put (fear, doubt, suspicion, anger, etc.) to rest; calm; quiet.
2. to lessen or relieve; mitigate; alleviate: to allay pain.
[bef. 1000; ME aleyen, OE alecgan to put down, allay (a- A-3 + lecgan to LAY1); sp. -ll- shows influence of the now obs. allege ( < AF, OF aleg(i)er; see ALLEGE) to alleviate, allay]
Syn. 1. soften, assuage. ALLAY, MODERATE, SOOTHE mean to reduce excitement or emotion. TO ALLAY is to lay to rest or lull to a sense of security, possibly by making the emotion seem unjustified: to allay suspicion, anxiety, fears. TO MODERATE is to tone down any excess and thus to restore calm: to moderate the expression of one's grief. TO SOOTHE is to exert a pacifying or tranquilizing influence: to soothe a terrified child. 2. lighten, mollify, temper, ease.
Ant. 1. excite.

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Universalium. 2010.

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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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