This word came into English through Middle English alayen, aleyen, aleggen, which developed from Old English āleċġan (“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”). That in turn goes back to Proto-Germanic *uzlagjaną (“to lay down”), equivalent to a- + lay. It is cognate with German erlegen (“to impose, cause to succumb, kill”) and Gothic uslagjan (“to lay down”). In Middle English the word looked the same as forms of allege and alloy, which caused much overlap between their meanings.

Synonyms

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relieve assuage slake still quench ease

Antonyms

agitate incite rouse provoke enrage aggravate

Related words

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Rhymes for allay

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of allay?

"allay" (verb) means to make a strong feeling, such as fear or worry, calmer or less severe.

What is another word for allay?

Other words for "allay" include relieve, assuage, slake, still, quench, ease.

What is the opposite of allay?

Opposites of "allay" include agitate, incite, rouse, provoke, enrage, aggravate.

What are the different meanings of allay?

"allay" has 3 main meanings: 1. To make a strong feeling, such as fear or worry, calmer or less severe; 2. To make something unpleasant less severe; 3. To die down and become calm again.

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