Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [uh-ley]
- /əˈleɪ/
- /əˈleɪ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [uh-ley]
- /əˈleɪ/
Definitions of allay word
- verb allay If you allay someone's fears or doubts, you stop them feeling afraid or doubtful. 3
- verb allay to relieve (pain, grief, etc) or be relieved 3
- verb allay to reduce (fear, anger, etc) 3
- verb transitive allay to put (fears, etc.) to rest; quiet; calm 3
- verb transitive allay to lessen, relieve, or alleviate (pain, grief, etc.) 3
- verb with object allay to put (fear, doubt, suspicion, anger, etc.) to rest; calm; quiet. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of allay
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English aleyen, Old English ālecgan to put down, allay (ā- a-3 + lecgan to lay1); spelling -ll- shows influence of the now obsolete allege (< Anglo-French, Old French aleg(i)er; see allege) to alleviate, allay
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Allay
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
allay popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 87% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
allay usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for allay
verb allay
- mitigate — to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.
- assuage — If you assuage an unpleasant feeling that someone has, you make them feel it less strongly.
- lessen — to become less.
- calm — A calm person does not show or feel any worry, anger, or excitement.
- alleviate — If you alleviate pain, suffering, or an unpleasant condition, you make it less intense or severe.
Antonyms for allay
verb allay
- incite — to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action: to incite a crowd to riot.
- increase — to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes.
- intensify — to make intense or more intense.
- worsen — Make or become worse.
- worry — to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.
Top questions with allay
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