See Also:

lay(7) (iou)



lay verb1. .

I. Prostrate.
verb trans. Bring or cast down from an erect position; strike down; make prostrate. Formerly also, abase, humble. Now only with compl. denoting prostration or extension on a surface. OE.
Browning We check the fire by laying flat Each building in its path. Tennyson Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn.
b. Of wind or rain: beat down (crops). L16.
verb trans. Cause (the sea, a wind, a cloud of dust, etc.) to subside; allay (anxiety), appease (anger, appetite, etc.). Now chiefly arch. & dial. exc. in lay the dust. ME.
Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona See how I lay the dust with my tears. A. F. Douglas-Home The mistrust of the Archbishop was never laid.
b. Cause (a ghost) to cease appearing. L16.
B. Harte For now that the ghosts of my heart are laid. transf.: Times We must lay the myth that the RPO was..more eligible for penalisation than..other orchestras.
verb trans.
a. Deliver (oneself, a mother) of a child; bring to bed of a child. obsolete exc. dial. LME.
b. Have sexual intercourse with (esp. a woman). Cf. LAY noun4 10. slang (orig. US). M20.
verb trans. Horticulture. = LAYER verb 1a. Now rare or obsolete. M16.
b. Trim (a hedge) back, cutting the branches half through, bending them down, and interweaving them. Chiefly dial. M18.
verb trans. Orig., bring down, reduce, (a swelling). Now, smooth down, cause to lie evenly. L16.
verb trans. Nautical. Sail out so far as to bring (land etc.) below the horizon. Opp. raise. L16.
II. Deposit.
verb trans. Place in a position of rest on the ground or any other supporting surface; deposit in some specified place. OE.
G. Greene I laid the newspaper flat on the table. Day Lewis At a level crossing I laid pins on the line.
b. In the British Parliament: place (documents) on the table in order to give information to the House of Commons. E20.
Hansard His Majesty's Government have been willing to lay the complete records.
verb trans.
a. Deposit in the grave; bury. Freq. in lay one's bones below. OE.
Yeats In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid. Tolkien They had laid their fallen comrades in a mound.
b. Place (a person etc.) in a recumbent posture in a specified place. ME.
M. Arnold The bent grass where I am laid.
verb trans. & intrans. Of a hen bird etc.: eject (an egg) from its body. See also lay an egg below. OE.
Addison When she has laid her Eggs in such a manner that she can cover them. B. MacDonald Black chickens which were supposed to lay as well as the White Leghorn.
verb trans. With adverbial phr. as compl.: deposit as a pledge or in pawn; mortgage (lands). ME-L17.
b. Give up (a person) as a hostage; give up (a hostage). ME-M16.
verb trans. Put down as a wager; stake (a sum, one's head, life, etc.). Also, stake something on (a wager, a bet). ME.
Arnold Bennett I lay anything he had opened the safe before and read the will before. J. Colville The invasion may be pending (though I'll lay 10-1 against).
b. verb intrans. Wager, bet; announce one's readiness to bet. LME.
c. verb trans. Bet on (a horse etc.). L19.
verb trans. Relinquish, sacrifice, (one's life). ME-M16.
verb trans. Lose the faculty of (speech). north. ME-M17.
III. Place, set, apply.
verb trans. Place close to; put to for a purpose, apply. OE.
Shakespeare Macbeth By each at once her choppy finger laying Upon her skinny lips. E. M. Forster She laid her face against the tree.
b. Attach, add, annex to. OE-E19.
c. Put in or commit to prison. ME-M16.
d. Put (hounds) on a scent. L18.
verb trans. Place (one's hand or hands) on or apply (one's hand or hands) to a person or thing, esp. for purposes of appropriation or in violence. OE.
Book of Common Prayer Or have laid violent hands upon themselves. Dickens Laying hands on the article as if it were a Bottle.
b. gen. Place (one's arms, legs, etc.) in a specified position. LME.
D. H. Lawrence Louis..laid his head a little on one side.
verb trans. Place (affection, hope, confidence, value) on or in a person or thing. arch. ME.
Conan Doyle Neither now or at any time have I laid great store upon my life.
verb trans. Arrange (a snare, a trap, an ambush) ready for operation, set. ME.
b. verb intrans. Set an ambush or a trap for; lie in wait for. L15.
M. Kingsley The men go and lay for a rubber-hunter.
c. verb trans. Set watch or guard in (a place); search (a place) for. M16-M17.
verb trans. Bring into a specified state, esp. of subjection, passivity, or exposure to view or danger. ME.
J. Collier It lays him at the mercy of chance and humour. C. M. Yonge He was laid under orders to follow the commands of the Spanish king.
b. Nautical. Foll. by aboard: run into or alongside (a ship), usu. for boarding. Also, bring (a ship) into a specified position, as alongside another vessel etc. L16.
verb trans.
a. Post or station (a body of soldiers etc.); station (post-horses) along a route. Also, beset (a place) with soldiers. LME-M19.
b. Locate (a scene) in a particular place. Formerly also, assign to a specified locality. L16.
W. Cowper I never framed a wish or formed a plan..But there I laid the scene.
verb trans. Military. Set (a gun, esp a large one) in the correct position to hit a mark, aim. L15.
K. Douglas I crammed shells into the six-pounder as fast as Evan could lay and fire it.
verb refl. & intrans. Orig., set oneself against. Later, apply oneself to. M16.
Carlyle When Friedrich laid himself to engineering, I observe, he did it well.
IV. Impose as a burden.
verb trans. Impose (a penalty, command, obligation, tax, etc.) as a burden. Also (N. Amer. slang), inflict (an experience, emotion, etc.). Freq. foll. by on. OE.
H. L. Mencken Not many of them returned in taxes the extra expense they laid on the community.
b. Assess, rate, tax, (a person). ME-E18.
verb trans. Cause (blame, aspersions, ridicule) to fall on. ME.
W. Irving The good wives..never failed..to lay the blame on Dame van Winkle.
verb trans. Bring (a stick etc.) down on; inflict (blows) on. ME.
J. A. Froude What if my son wishes to lay a stick on my back?
verb intrans. Deal blows; make an attack. Chiefly foll. by prepositions: see below. ME.
Goldsmith Rascal! replied the Tyrant, give me the Stick; and..he laid on the unresisting Slave.
verb trans. Strike, beat (a person) on the face, over the head, etc. ME-E18.
J. Arbuthnot The cook laid them over the pate with a ladle.
V. Dispose or arrange in proper relative position over a surface.
verb trans. Place (a foundation, a floor, bricks, a submarine cable, etc.) in the horizontal position; place (a carpet) in position on the floor. OE.
W. Bronk Looking at stones the Incas laid. fig.: M. Edgeworth She laid the cornerstone of all her future misfortunes at that very instant.
b. Set out (a table), spread (a tablecloth), place (plates, cutlery, etc.) in order in preparation for a meal; set out a table ready for (a meal) in this way. Also, place fuel ready for lighting (a fire). Formerly also, prepare (a bed) for sleeping in. ME.
G. Greene No table was laid for dinner. P. H. Johnson You can come and lay the table. We'll eat in the kitchen.
c. Printing. Fill (a case) with new sorts. L17.
verb trans. Orig., establish (a law), settle, lay down (a principle). Later, fix the outlines of, arrange, devise, (a plan, a plot, a scheme). OE.
C. Thirlwall His schemes also were more artfully laid.
b. verb intrans. Orig., make arrangements or plans for. Later (now dial. & US), plan or intend to do. LME.
c. verb trans. Contrive, arrange. E17-E18.
verb trans.
a. Direct (one's steps). Only in OE.
b. Apply or devote (one's power, affection, possessions) to. Also foll. by into. ME-E17.
c. Nautical. Set (a course for). M17.
C. Francis The wind freshened and shifted.., so that Gulliver G was able to lay her course.
verb trans. Set down in writing; put into or express in (a particular form of language). ME-L18.
verb trans. Cover or coat (a material, an object, etc.), with something, esp. for ornamentation. LME.
J. A. Froude My bath-room is..a part of the veranda laid with zinc.
verb trans. Twist yarn to form (a strand), or strands to form (a rope). LME.
verb trans. Sharpen (a cutting instrument) with a steel. dial. L15.
verb trans. Art. Put (colour etc.) on a surface in layers; put or arrange (colours, a picture) on canvas. L15.
VI. Present, put forward.
verb trans. Bring forward as a charge, accusation, or imputation; impute, attribute (a fault etc.) to. arch. ME.
Southey That..you should lay to me Unkind neglect. G. W. Dasent He had..to lay his sleeplessness on something,..so he laid it on the lobster salad.
verb trans. Put forward, allege, (a claim, reason, example, etc.). LME.
W. S. Maugham She was careful to make it plain..that she laid no claims on him.
b. Orig., assign (a date). Later (Law), state or describe as; fix (damages) at a certain amount. Now rare. LME.
c. Present (an information, indictment, etc.) in legal form. L18.
VII.
verb intrans. = LIE verb1 I, II. Now chiefly dial. & non-standard. ME.
Word Study I was just laying there minding my own business. R. Adams So even if you was to have to lay down for a bit. Rescue News The flints were..just laying on the beach.
b. Nautical. Of a ship: lie in a specified position. M16.
Phrases: kill the goose that lays the golden eggs: see GOOSE noun. lay about one hit out on all sides (lit. & fig.). lay a charge make an accusation. lay a finger on: see FINGER noun. lay a ground Art spread a coating over a surface, as a basis for colours. lay an egg colloq. (a) (of an aircraft) drop a bomb; (b) (orig. US) (of a performer or performance) fail badly. lay an eye on US = lay eyes on below. lay by the heels: see HEEL noun1. lay claim to: see CLAIM noun 1. lay dead colloq. (chiefly US) remain inactive, lie low, do nothing in particular. lay emphasis on, lay stress on, lay weight on emphasize, treat as being particularly important. lay eyes on set eyes on, look at; catch sight of. lay hands on (a) seize, appropriate; (b) do violence to (esp. oneself); (c) confirm or ordain by placing one's hands on the head of (a candidate). lay hold of, lay hold on seize, grasp, fig. benefit from (an opponent's weak point etc.). lay home to assault, attack, (lit. & fig.). lay in a person's dish: see DISH noun 1. lay in pledge, lay in to pledge: see PLEDGE noun. lay it on a person N. Amer. slang give information to a person. lay low: see LOW adjective & noun4. lay one's account with etc.: see ACCOUNT noun. lay one's bones be buried in a specified place. lay lay oneself wide open: see WIDE adverb. lay one's finger on: see FINGER noun. lay one's hands on: see HAND noun. lay on one's oars: see OAR noun. lay on the line: see LINE noun2. lay on the table: see TABLE noun. lay open to: see OPEN adjective. lay pipe, lay pipes: see PIPE noun1. lay siege to besiege; attack (lit. & fig.). lay something at a person's door: see DOOR noun. lay stress on: see lay emphasis on above. lay the saddle upon the right horse: see SADDLE noun. lay to heart: see HEART noun. lay to rest put to rest, bury, (lit. & fig.). lay to sleep: see SLEEP noun. lay to someone's charge: see CHARGE noun. lay to wed: see WED noun 2. lay violent hands on: see VIOLENT adjective. lay wait: see WAIT noun 4. lay waste: see WASTE adjective. lay weight on: see lay emphasis on above.
With adverbs in specialized senses: lay abroad arch. spread out; spread (a net). lay aside (a) put (a garment, weapon, etc.) away from one; put on one side; (lay aside the tomahawk: see TOMAHAWK noun); (b) cease to use or think of or practise; (c) put out of the way, get rid of; (d) set (money etc.) apart for future use; (e) in pass., be incapacitated for work by illness. lay away (a) = lay aside (a), (b) above; (b) rare bury; (c) place (hides) flat in a large vat or pit to steep in strong tan liquor, as the final stage in the tanning process. lay back (a) cause to slope back from the vertical; (b) colloq. (chiefly US) lie or lean back, recline, relax. lay by (a) = lay aside (a), (b) above; (b) = lay aside (c) above; (c) put away in store; store up; save (money); (d) put away for future disposal or safety; (e) in pass. be incapacitated by illness; (f) US work (a crop or field) for the last time, before leaving it to grow without further husbandry. lay down (a) put down on the ground or other surface, after holding or carrying; put off, discard (a garment, armour); lay down arms, lay down one's arms: see ARM noun2; (b) resign, relinquish (office, power, dignity, hopes, etc.); cease to bear (a name); discontinue (a custom, a fashion); (c) place in a recumbent or prostrate position, cause to lie down; (d) put down (money) as a wager or a payment; (e) cast down, overthrow; (f) Nautical (of the wind or sea) make (a ship etc.) lie on its side; (g) (begin to) construct (a road, a railway, etc.); lay down a keel, begin to construct a ship; (h) establish, formulate definitely (a principle, a rule); prescribe (a course of action, limits, etc.); lay down the law: see LAW noun1; (i) set down (a plan) on paper etc.; delineate; (j) put down in writing; treat of; (k) Needlework (arch.) run and fell (a seam); trim, embroider; (l) convert (arable land) into pasture; put (land) under grass, clover, etc. (also foll. by in, to, with); (m) store (wine) in a cellar; (n) US give up; cease to act; fail; withdraw; (o) Jazz slang set up or establish (a certain beat); (p) make a recording of (esp. popular music). lay fast (a) put in fetters, imprison (also lay fast by the feet); (b) make unable to proceed or escape. lay forth (a) stretch out in a prostrate position; display openly; (b) put or bring forward in argument etc.; reveal, make clear. lay in (a) place in store; provide oneself with a stock of; (b) put in (a claim); (c) enclose or reserve (a meadow) for hay; (d) Horticulture place in position (the new wood of a trained tree); (e) paint (a picture etc.) in the first unfinished stage; (f) Nautical unship (oars); (g) Basketball bounce (the ball) off the backboard into the basket. lay off (a) take off, take away; (b) Nautical steer (a ship) away from the shore; (of a ship) remain stationary outside a harbour; (c) mark or separate off (land etc.), esp. for a specific purpose; (d) (orig. dial. & US) discontinue; discharge (an employee) permanently or temporarily, esp. owing to shortage of work; (e) in decorating, work over a painted etc. surface with brushstrokes going in the same direction; (f) desist from (doing something); abstain from or stop using (something); stop bothering (a person); freq. absol. in imper.: cut it out! stop it!; (g) Nautical & Aeronautics indicate on a chart etc., work out (a course); (h) (of a bookmaker) insure against a substantial loss resulting from (a large bet) by placing a similar bet with another bookmaker; (i) (Football & Hockey etc.) pass (the ball) to a team-mate who can make progress with it. lay on (a) impose (a command, a penalty, a tax); (b) deal blows with vigour; make a vigorous attack; (c) inflict (blows); ply (a lash etc.) vigorously; (d) (also lay it on) increase the charge for goods etc.; formerly also, be lavish in expense; (e) apply a coat of (paint, varnish, etc.) to a surface; lay on thick, lay it on thick, lay on with a trowel, lay it on with a trowel, do (something) to excess, flatter, eulogize, etc., lavishly; (f) Printing place (the sheets of paper) on the type to be printed; (g) put (hounds) on a scent; (h) Needlework place (thread) on a material before couching it down with a separate thread; (i) provide pipes, cables, etc., for the supply of (water, gas, electricity, telephonic communication, etc.); make available (refreshments, entertainment, a means of transport, etc.); (j) N. Amer. slang give (something) to a person; (k) (Football & Hockey etc.) make (a pass) with accuracy so that a team-mate can readily make the next move; (l) verb phr. trans. & intrans. (Angling) lower (a weight or shot) to rest with the hook and bait on the bed of the river, stream, etc. lay out (a) extend at length; take out and expose to view, the air, etc.; lay so as to project outwards; (b) stretch out and prepare (a body) for burial or cremation; slang kill (a person); colloq. put (a person) temporarily out of action; knock unconscious; lay out cold: see COLD adjective; (c) spend (money); (d) employ or exercise (powers, effort); (e) lay oneself out, take pains; (f) lay out for (now rare or obsolete), look out for; take measures to win or get; (g) scheme, plan to effect some purpose; (h) (now rare exc. US) display, expose; set forth, expound, demonstrate; (i) apportion (land) for a purpose; dispose, arrange, (grounds, streets, a garden, etc.) according to a plan; (j) plan or map out; (k) Nautical occupy a position on a yard towards the yard-arms for the purpose of manipulating the sails. lay over (a) overlay; (b) US colloq. miss, allow to pass by; postpone; place a temporary embargo on; (c) US colloq. excel, outdo; (d) N. Amer. colloq. lie over; break one's journey and stop, esp. overnight. lay to (a) place in juxtaposition; (b) put or bring into action; bring to bear; (c) Nautical come to a stationary position with the head towards the wind; = lie to s.v. LIE verb1. lay together (a) place in juxtaposition; add together; lay their heads together: see HEAD noun; (b) concoct, compose (a story). lay up (a) vomit up; (b) Agriculture throw up (land) in ridges as a preparation for sowing; reserve (land) for hay; (c) put away for safety; store up (goods, provisions); put by; save; lay up in lavender: see LAVENDER noun2; (d) confine to a house or bed through illness etc.; freq. in pass., be (taken) ill; (e) take (a ship, vehicle, etc.) out of service; (f) = sense 32 above; (g) Nautical lay a course; (h) assemble or stack (plies or layers) in the arrangement required for the manufacture of plywood or other laminated material (usu. prior to bonding into a single structure).
With prepositions in specialized senses: lay at (now chiefly dial.) aim blows or an attack at; attack, assail, (lit. & fig.). lay before place in front of (a person); bring to the notice of, submit to the consideration of. lay from put away from (oneself); take one's fingers off (something). lay into colloq. belabour. lay off = lay from above. lay on attack vigorously, beat soundly. lay to assault, attack, press hard (lit. & fig.).
Comb.: lay-back (a) the receding position of the nose of certain breeds of dog, esp. the bulldog; (b) Mountaineering a method of climbing a crack in a rock etc. by leaning back with the feet against the (rock) face; (c) in various sports, the movement or position of leaning backwards or lying on one's back; laybacking Mountaineering the activity of climbing a crack by means of a lay-back; laybarge a barge designed for laying underwater pipelines; lay-bed (a) (now dial.) a grave; (b) a layer, a stratum; lay-down noun (a) slang a certainty, a sure thing; (b) slang a remand in custody; (c) dial. & non-standard a lie-down, a rest; lay-down adjective (a) designating a collar which is folded over and does not stand up; (b) designating a hand or contract at cards (esp. bridge) which is such that success is possible against any defence, so that no harm would be done by exposing the player's cards on the table; layflat adjective & noun (designating) a tube, tubing, etc., that can lie or be laid flat; lay-in Basketball a shot made at the top of a jump, usu. by bouncing the ball off the backboard into the basket; lay-off (a) a rest, a respite; a period during which a worker is temporarily dismissed or given leave; (b) a part of the year during which activity in a particular business or game is partly or completely suspended; (c) the (esp. temporary) dismissal of a number of workers from a factory etc., usually for economic reasons; lay-over (a) an additional cloth laid over a tablecloth; (b) N. Amer. a stop or stay in a place, esp. overnight; a halt, a rest, a delay; lay-up (a) a period during which a person or thing is (temporarily) out of employment or use; (b) the operation of laying up in the manufacture of laminated material; the assembly of layers ready for bonding so produced; (c) Basketball (also lay-up shot) an attempt to score from free play; a shot made directly into the basket without bouncing the ball off the backboard.
? The use in branch VII, avoided in standard English, is probably encouraged by confusion with LAY verb, the pa. t. of LIE verb1