Lay

Lay, lā, v.t. to cause to lie down: to place or set down: to beat down: to spread on a surface: to conjoin: to spread the proper thing on: to calm: to appease: to wager: to bring forth: to impose: to charge: to present.—v.i. to produce eggs: to wager, bet:—pr.p. lay′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. laid.—n. situation: (Shak.) a bet: a share of profit, esp. in whaling enterprises: (slang) a field or method of operations, esp. of thieves: a measure in thread manufacture, about 800 yards.—ns. Lay′er, that which lays—e.g. a hen, a bricklayer: a bed or stratum: a shoot laid for propagation; Lay′ering, the propagation of plants by layers; Lay′ing, the first coat of plaster: the act or time of laying eggs: the eggs laid; Lay′-out, that which is laid out, a spread, for dining, gaming, &c.; Lay′-stall, a place for laying dung, rubbish, &c.—Lay about one, to deal blows vigorously or on all sides; Lay aside, away, to discard: to put apart for future use; Lay at, to endeavour to strike; Lay bare, to make bare, disclose; Lay before, to submit to, as of plans; Lay by, to keep for future use, to dismiss, to put off; Lay by the heels (see Heel); Lay down, to give up: to deposit, as a pledge: to apply, as embroidery: to delineate, describe: to affirm, assert: (rare) to store for future use; Lay heads together, to consult together, to deliberate; Lay hold of, or on, to seize, apprehend; Lay in, to get in a supply of; Lay into, to chastise thoroughly; Lay it on, to charge exorbitantly, to do anything with profuseness; Lay off, to cast aside: to mark off; Lay on, to apply with force, to strike, to act with vigour; Lay one's self out to, to put forth one's best efforts for anything; Lay on load (Spens.), to belabour; Lay on the table (see Table); Lay open, to make bare, to show, expose; Lay out, to expand, to display: to expend, to plan, to exert: to dress in grave-clothes: to take measures, seek; Lay siege to, to besiege: to importune; Lay the land, to cause the land to disappear below the horizon by sailing away from it; Lay to, to apply with vigour: to bring a ship to rest; Lay to heart (see Heart); Lay under, to subject to; Lay up, to store up, preserve: to confine to one's bed or room for a time: to put a ship in dock after dismantling; Lay upon, to wager upon; Lay wait, to lie in wait, or in ambush; Lay waste, to devastate, to destroy.—Laying on of hands (see Hand).—Laid embroidery, gimped or raised embroidery.—On a lay, on shares, as when a crew is shipped 'on a lay' instead of receiving wages. [Lay is the causal to lie, from A.S. lecgan; Ice. leggja, Ger. legen.]