allay. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

allay

SYLLABICATION:	al·lay
PRONUNCIATION:	-l
TRANSITIVE VERB:	Inflected forms: al·layed, al·lay·ing, al·lays 1. To reduce the intensity of; relieve: allay back pains. See synonyms at relieve. 2. To calm or pacify; set to rest: allayed the fears of the worried citizens.
ETYMOLOGY:	Middle English aleien, from Old English lecgan, to lay down : -, intensive pref. + lecgan, to lay; see lay¹.
OTHER FORMS:	al·layer —NOUN


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.