Antonyms for allay


Grammar : Verb
Spell : uh-ley
Phonetic Transcription : əˈleɪ


Definition of allay

Origin :
  • Old English alecgan "to put down, remit, give up," a Germanic compound (cf. Gothic uslagjan, Old High German irleccan, German erlegen), from a- "down, aside" + lecgan "to lay" (see lay).
  • Early Middle English pronunciations of -y- and -g- were not always distinct, and the word was confused in Middle English with various senses of Romanic-derived alloy and allege, especially the latter in an obsolete sense of "to lighten," from Latin ad- "to" + levis (see lever).
  • Amid the overlapping of meanings that thus arose, there was developed a perplexing network of uses of allay and allege, that belong entirely to no one of the original vbs., but combine the senses of two or more of them. [OED]
  • The double -l- is 17c., a mistaken Latinism. Related: Allayed; allaying.
  • verb reduce something, usually a pain or a problem
Example sentences :
  • How calculated is this precedure to allay animosities and unite hearts!
  • Extract from : « Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II » by Francis Augustus Cox
  • She will allay your intoxication by gentle degrees, and send you sober home.
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • Still, Greta's nervousness increased; no reason, no sophistry could allay it.
  • Extract from : « A Son of Hagar » by Sir Hall Caine
  • There was alarm on her face, which La Boulaye now set himself to allay.
  • Extract from : « The Trampling of the Lilies » by Rafael Sabatini
  • When it came, however, it was not calculated to allay the curiosity of his questioner.
  • Extract from : « The Strollers » by Frederic S. Isham
  • Would he not allay their fears for his safety, not for themselves?
  • Extract from : « Almayer's Folly » by Joseph Conrad
  • The "angel" tried in vain to allay her husband's excitement.
  • Extract from : « The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume I (of 2) » by Alexandre Dumas pre
  • This sweeping statement was not calculated to allay my discomfort.
  • Extract from : « Tom, Dick and Harry » by Talbot Baines Reed
  • Nor did I seek to allay their wrath, knowing but too well that it was justified.
  • Extract from : « Manasseh » by Maurus Jokai
  • It will be easy to excite passion and difficult to allay it.
  • Extract from : « America First » by Various

Synonyms for allay

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019