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Definition lay
Etymology 1
From Middle English layen, leggen, from Old English le??an (�to lay�), from Proto-Germanic *lagjan? (�to lay�), causative form of Proto-Germanic *ligjan? (�to lie, recline�), from Proto-Indo-European *leg?- (�to lie, recline�). Cognate with West Frisian lizze (�to lay, to lie�), Dutch leggen (�to lay�), German legen (�to lay�), Norwegian Bokm�l legge (�to lay�), Norwegian Nynorsk leggja (�to lay�), Swedish l�gga (�to lay�), Icelandic leggja (�to lay�), Albanian lag (�troop, band, war encampment�).
Verb
lay (third-person singular simple present lays, present participle laying, simple past and past participle laid)
- (transitive) To place down in a position of rest, or in a horizontal position.
- (transitive, archaic) To cause to subside or abate.
- (transitive) To prepare (a plan, project etc.); to set out, establish (a law, principle).
- (transitive) To install certain building materials, laying one thing on top of another.
- (transitive) To produce and deposit an egg.
- (transitive) To bet (that something is or is not the case).
- (transitive) To deposit (a stake) as a wager; to stake; to risk.
- (transitive, slang) To have sex with.
- (nautical) To take a position; to come or go.
- (law) To state; to allege.
- (military) To point; to aim.
- (ropemaking) To put the strands of (a rope, a cable, etc.) in their proper places and twist or unite them.
- (printing) To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the imposing stone.
- (printing) To place (new type) properly in the cases.
- To apply; to put.
- To impose (a burden, punishment, command, tax, etc.).
- To impute; to charge; to allege.
- To present or offer.
Noun
lay (countable and uncountable, plural lays)
- Arrangement or relationship; layout.
- A share of the profits in a business.
- A lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance.
- The direction a rope is twisted.
- (colloquial) A casual sexual partner.
- (colloquial) An act of sexual intercourse.
- (slang, archaic) A plan; a scheme.
- (uncountable) the laying of eggs.
- (obsolete) A layer.
Etymology 2
From Middle English laie, lawe, from Old English lagu (�sea, flood, water, ocean�), from Proto-Germanic *laguz (�water, sea�), from Proto-Indo-European *lakw- (�water, body of water, lake�). Cognate with Icelandic l�gur (�liquid, fluid, lake�), Latin lacus (�lake, hollow, hole�).
Noun
lay (plural lays)
- A lake.
Etymology 3
From Old French lai, from Latin laicus, from Ancient Greek ?????? (la�k�s).
Adjective
lay (comparative more lay, superlative most lay)
- Non-professional; not being a member of an organized institution.
- Not belonging to the clergy, but associated with them.
- (obsolete) Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.
Etymology 4
See lie
Verb
lay
- simple past tense of lie when pertaining to position.
- (proscribed) To be in a horizontal position; to lie (from confusion with lie).
Etymology 5
From Middle English lay, from Old French lai (�song, lyric, poem�), from Frankish *laih (�play, melody, song�), from Proto-Germanic *laikaz, *laikiz (�jump, play, dance, hymn�), from Proto-Indo-European *loyg-, *lay?- (�to jump, spring, play�). Akin to Old High German leih (�a play, skit, melody, song�), Middle High German leich (�piece of music, epic song played on a harp�), Old English l?can (�to move quickly, fence, sing�). See lake.
Noun
lay (plural lays)
- A ballad or sung poem; a short poem or narrative, usually intended to be sung.
Etymology 6
See lea
Noun
lay (plural lays)
Etymology 7
Noun
lay (plural lays)
- (obsolete) A law.
- (obsolete) An obligation; a vow.
Etymology 8
Calque of Yiddish ????? (leygn, �to put, lay�).
Verb
lay (third-person singular simple present lays, present participle laying, simple past and past participle laid)
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