Lay
(Lay), n. A meadow. See Lea. [Obs.] Dryden.
Lay
(Lay), n. [OF. lei faith, law, F. loi law. See Legal.]
1. Faith; creed; religious profession. [Obs.]
Of the sect to which that he was born
He kept his lay, to which that he was sworn.
Chaucer. 2. A law. [Obs.] "Many goodly lays." Spenser.
3. An obligation; a vow. [Obs.]
They bound themselves by a sacred lay and oath.
Holland. Lay
(Lay) a. [OF. lai, lais, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. laoi, laoidh, song, poem, OIr. laoidh poem,
verse; but cf. also AS. lac play, sport, G. leich a sort of poem .]
1. A song; a simple lyrical poem; a ballad. Spenser. Sir W. Scott.
2. A melody; any musical utterance.
The throstle cock made eke his lay.
Chaucer. Lay
(Lay) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laid (lad); p. pr. & vb. n. Laying.] [OE. leggen, AS. lecgan, causative,
fr. licgan to lie; akin to D. leggen, G. legen, Icel. leggja, Goth. lagjan. See Lie to be prostrate.]
1. To cause to lie down, to be prostrate, or to lie against something; to put or set down; to deposit; as, to
lay a book on the table; to lay a body in the grave; a shower lays the dust.
A stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den.
Dan. vi. 17.
Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid.
Milton. 2. To place in position; to establish firmly; to arrange with regularity; to dispose in ranks or tiers; as, to lay
a corner stone; to lay bricks in a wall; to lay the covers on a table.
3. To prepare; to make ready; to contrive; to provide; as, to lay a snare, an ambush, or a plan.
4. To spread on a surface; as, to lay plaster or paint.
5. To cause to be still; to calm; to allay; to suppress; to exorcise, as an evil spirit.
After a tempest when the winds are laid.
Waller. 6. To cause to lie dead or dying.
Brave Cæneus laid Ortygius on the plain,
The victor Cæneus was by Turnus slain.
Dryden. 7. To deposit, as a wager; to stake; to risk.
I dare lay mine honor
He will remain so.
Shak. 8. To bring forth and deposit; as, to lay eggs.
9. To apply; to put.
She layeth her hands to the spindle.
Prov. xxxi. 19.
