Allay definition
To reduce the intensity of; lessen or relieve.
Allay the threat of social unrest; allay skin irritation.
verb
To lessen, relieve, or alleviate (pain, grief, etc.)
verb
To calm or pacify (an emotion); set to rest.
Allayed the fears of the worried citizens.
verb
Shakespeare.
When the rage allays.
verb
The definition of allay means to make better or decrease something that is unpleasant.
An example of something that allays pain is morphine.
verb
To put (fears, etc.) to rest; quiet; calm.
verb
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Allay is defined as to settle or calm someone or something.
An example of a way to allay fear is to face what you are afraid of.
verb
Origin of allay
- Middle English aleien from Old English ālecgan to lay aside, lay down ā- intensive pref. lecgan to lay lay1
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- 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 a- + lay. Cognate with German erlegen (“to impose, cause to succumb, kill”), Gothic [script?] (uslagjan, “to lay down”). In Middle English the word was identical to forms of allege and alloy, leading to much overlapping of senses. [script?]
From Wiktionary