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