Lay v.¹

Pa. t. and pa. pple. laid. Infinitive: 1 lecgan, lecgean, 2–5 legge(n, 6–7 (sense 1 c) ledge, 3–5 leyn, 4 lein, lain, leye, lai, 4–5 leyne, leie, 4–6 laye, ley, 5 leyen, 6 Sc. la, 6–7 laie, 4– lay. Indicative Present: sing. 1st pers. 1 lecge, 4 legge, leye (etc.), 4– lay. 2nd pers. 1 leʓest, 3 leist, 6 lay’st, 6– leyest. 3rd pers. α. 1 leʓ(e)ð, 2 leiʓð, 3 leggeð, leiȝeð, 3–4 leið, 4 layþ, leyþ, leggiþ, 4–5 leieþ, 5–6 layth, 6 laieth, 4– (now arch.) layeth. β. 4–7 layes, lais, 5 legges, 7 laies, 4– lays. plural. α. 1 lecgaþ, lecgeaþ, 3 leggeoð, leggeð, leið. β. 3–6 laye, 4 leyn, lein, leye, leie, 5 leyhe, 6 laie, 4– lay. γ. Sc. and north. 5 layez, 6 layis. Indicative Past: sing. 1st and 3rd pers. 1 leʓde, læʓde, léde, 2 leiʓde, 2–3 læide, 2–5 leide, 3 leaide, Orm. leȝȝde, 3–6 leyde, 4 leid, legged, lait, Sc. lad, 4–5 lade, 4–7 laide, 4–8 layd(e, 5 leyd, leged, leghed, layid, 5–7 layed, laied, 7–8 lay’d, 4– laid. plural. 1 leʓdon, læʓdon, leidon, 2–3 læiden, 2–4 leiden, 3 ledden, 4 laiden, 4–5 leyden, 5 laidon; also (in 4 and subsequently) as 1st and 3rd pers. sing. Imperative: sing. 1 leʓe, 3 Orm. leȝȝ, 3–5 ley, leie, 4 leye, 5 le, 6 laye, 4– lay. plural. 1 lecgaþ, 3–4 leggeþ, 4 leiþ, 4– lay. β. north. and Sc. 4 laes, lays, lais. Gerund: 4–6 layeng, 5 legginge, legynge, 6 (sense 1 c) ledging, 5 leying, leiyng, leyng, 5–6 layng(e, 6 laieng, laiyng, 6–7 layeing, 4– laying Present Participle: α. 1 lecgende, 4 north. and Sc. leyond, layand. β. (as in the Gerund). Past Participle: 1 ʓeléd, ʓeleiʓd, 3 ileid, yleid, ilæid, Orm. leȝȝd, 3–5 leid(e, leyd, 4 ylaid(e, ylayde, leyde, 4–5 yleyd, 4–6 layde, 4–7 laide, layed, 4–8 layd, 5 ilaid, leied, leyed, led, 6 layede, (sense 1 c) ledgde, 6–7 laied, 7 lai’d, 7–8 lay’d, 4– laid. [OE. lęcgan = OFris. ledsa, lega, leia, OS. leggian (Du. leggen), OHG. lecken, legen (MHG., mod.G. legen), ON. legja (Sw. lägga, Da. lægge), Goth. (= OTeut.) lagjan, f. *lag- ablaut-variant of OTeut. *leg-: see LIE v.

  The normal representative of the OE. inf. and of the 1st pers. sing. and the plural pres. tense, would be *ledge; the existing form of the present-stem is evolved from the 2nd and 3rd pers. sing. pres. tense, in which the g of the OTeut. vb. was followed not by j but by i, and therefore escaped the WGer. gemination, so that OE. in these instances has g instead of cg.]

  General sense: To cause to lie.

  I.  To prostrate.

  1.  trans. To bring or cast down from an erect position (in OE. often, to strike down, slay); † fig. to cast down, abase, humble. Now only with complement denoting prostration or extension upon a surface. To lay low: see the adj.

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth. (Sedgefield), xli. § 3. He … hæt fealdan þæt seʓl & eac hwilum lecgan þone mæst.

a. 1000.  Laws of Athelstan, II. c. 2 (Schmid). Hine lecge for þeof se ðe him tocume.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 165. Al riht is leid and wogh arered.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1650. Who-so hym lyked to lyfte, on lofte watz he sone, & quo-so hym lyked to lay, watz loȝed bylyue.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 359. [He] cauȝte hym bi the myddel, For to lifte hym alofte and leyde him on his knowes.

c. 1440.  Partonope, 7007. I leyd hym flatt than in the med.

1595.  Shaks., John, II. i. 399. Shall we … lay this Angiers euen with the ground?

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 6. With a mortall wound on the forehead [he] laid him dead at his feete.

1671.  Milton, P. R., II. 332. A multitude with Spades and Axes arm’d To lay hills plain, fell woods, or valleys fill.

1785.  Cowper, Poplar Field, 7. And now in the grass behold they are laid, And the tree is my seat that once lent me a shade!

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 754/1. The abbey was laid in ruins by the explosion.

1879.  Browning, I. Ivanovitch, 95. We check the fire by laying flat Each building in its path.

1890.  Guardian, 24 Sept., 1486/1. One third of the town was laid in ashes.

  † b.  To lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird): to stretch upon or bring to the ground; to bring low, throw down, overthrow, destroy. Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 27328. We heom scullen awelden leggen heom to grunde.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 5086 (Kölbing). Hou Wawain & his feren … Hadden … þre þousand leyd to grounde.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 16. And weill ost … War layd at erd, but recoveryng.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, I. x. At the fourth passage there mette two for two, and bothe were leid vnto the erthe.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XI. xiii. 62. Mony Troianis ded to ground scho laid.

  c.  Of wind or rain: To beat down (crops). Chiefly in passive. (In 16–17th c. spelt ledge.)

1590.  Plain Perc., 21. Send not a whirlwinde amongst them, least … they … be ledgde on the ground.

1613.  R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Cadence … properly the ledging of corne by a tempest.

1626.  [see LAYING vbl. sb. 1].

1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., The Rain has laid the Corn, la Pluye a couché les Bleds.

1787.  Winter, Syst. Husb., 63. The straw grows so luxuriant, as to be beaten down and laid by high winds and heavy rains.

1799.  A. Young, Agric. Linc., 162. If laid, it [sc. flax] will not do for seed.

1846.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VII. II. 288. It bore wheat again,… but the weather of July laid it.

1859.  Tennyson, Geraint, 764. Yniol with that hard message went; it fell Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn.

1870.  Ramsay, Remin., ii. (ed. 18), 26. The crops being much laid.

  2.  To ‘bring to bed’ of a child; to deliver (a mother). Obs. exc. dial. † Also refl. said of the mother. (Cf. 53 c.)

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xiii. 520. And gyll, my wyfe, rose nott here syn she lade hir.

1605.  Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 56. Item given to the hird of Pittington for layinge a hogge, ijd.

1669.  Plymouth Col. Rec. (1856), V. 14. I went to her father Winters house … as I was informed of her being laid; and shee haueing a young child in her lapp, I asked her whoe was the father of it.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 168. The midwife that laid my mother of me.

1684.  Lady R. Russell, Lett., I. xvii. 50. I hear my Lady Digby is safely laid of a girl.

1716.  C’tess Cowper, Diary (1864), 126. The English Ladies all pressed to have the Princess laid by Sir David Hamilton.

1724.  J. Maubray (title), Female Physician Comprehending … particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births.

1828.  Carr, Craven Dial., Lay, Lig, to perform the office of an accoucheur. ‘He com to lay my daam.’

1876.  in Whitby Gloss.

  3.  To cause to subside (the sea, a tempest, a cloud of dust, etc.); † to put a stop to (an annoyance) (obs.); to allay (anxiety), appease (anger, appetite, etc.). Now arch. or dial. exc. in to lay the dust.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter lxxxiv. 4. Þou leyed alle þi wreth þat þou was inne.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 5990 (Trin.). To morwe shul þo fliȝes be leide.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. vi. (1495), 112. Yf the eye lyddes … ben full of flesshe wythin … thenne he layeth the syghte [L. visum impediunt].

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 1782. If ye me doo as ye me seid, A grete part of my care is leid.

1508.  Dunbar, Flyting w. Polwart, 96. Ȝit come I hame, fals baird, to lay thy boist.

1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 4. Moue not an euyll that is well layed.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 25. Terpandrus with his notes layeth the tempest.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. iii. 35. See how I lay the dust with my teares.

a. 1645.  Laud, Serm. (1847), 127. To show His disciples that His command could lay the sea.

1650.  R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low C. Warres, IV. 77. This report he was so farre from sleighting … that he laid it, before it could passe out of Spain.

1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 429. Who … still’d the roar Of thunder, chas’d the clouds, and laid the winds.

1695.  Blackmore, Pr. Arth., I. 307. Th’ enchanted Winds straightway their Fury laid.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 465, ¶ 1. The doubt which was laid revives again.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 60. He upon his coming over did for some time lay the heats that were among the Highlanders.

1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., To lay the Stomach for a while, etourdir la grosse faim.

1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxii. 308. ‘It was merely to lay the dust,’ said Bell, as though she had ordered the shower.

1879.  Farrar, St. Paul, I. 181. To lay the secret misgivings which had begun to rise in his mind.

1891.  Rutland Gloss., s.v., ‘The bit of fish as you sent me laid my appetite.’

1900.  Q. Rev., April, 459. These fears ought now to be laid.

  b.  To prevent (a spirit) from ‘walking.’ Often in fig. context.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. i. 26. To raise a spirit in his Mistresse circle,… letting it stand Till she had laid it, and coniured it downe.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. ii. 466. For nothing but his Interest Could lay his Devil of Contest.

1706.  Estcourt, Fair Example, III. i. When the Devil is up in a Woman, the wisest way is to lay it.

1716.  Addison, Drummer, II. i. He knows the secret of laying ghosts or of quieting houses that are haunted.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xcvi. 16. He faced the spectres of the mind And laid them.

1851.  D. Jerrold, St. Giles, xvi. 162. With a strong will, he laid the rising ghosts of his boyish days.

1883.  Froude, Short Stud., IV. II. i. 170. I remember his being called upon to lay a troublesome ghost.

  4.  † To bring down, reduce (a swelling) (obs.); to smooth down, make to lie evenly.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Oct., 119. When my Gates shall han their bellies layd: Cuddie shall haue a Kidde to store his farme.

1823.  J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 185. This will lay some blisters, and prevent others rising.

1892.  Leisure Hour, Nov., 72/2. Silk hats are ‘renovated’ by brushing them round smoothly with a wet brush to lay the nap.

  5.  Naut. To sail out to such a distance as to bring (an object) to or below the horizon. (Opposed to raise.)

1574.  W. Bourne, Regiment for Sea, xiii. (1577), 39 a. In going to the North, you doe rayse the Pole, and lay the Equinoctiall.

1711.  Milit. & Sea Dict., To Lay the Land. When they have sail’d out of Sight of Land, they say, they have Laid the Land.

1711.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4887/3. We chased them till Ten, at which time we had laid their Hulls.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Laying the Land, in navigation, the state of motion which increases the distance from the coast, so as to make it appear lower and smaller;… used in contradistinction to raising the land.

  6.  Gardening. = LAYER v. 1 b. Also refl. of the plant. ? Obs.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Sterno, Vites stratæ, quæ & constratæ. Vines growyng close to the grounde, or layed or planted in the earth.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort., July (1679), 21. You may lay Myrtils, Laurels, and other curious Greens.

1696.  Phillips (ed. 5), To Lay, in Gardening is to bend down the Branches, and cover them that they may take Root.

1707–12.  Mortimer, Husb., II. 185. The chief time of laying gilliflowers is in July.

1770.  Waring, in Phil. Trans., LXI. 387. Inferiour plants, that sometimes, in the phrase of gardening, lay themselves.

1822.  Loudon, Encycl. Garden., § 1646. 978. In that case the new plants [pinks] are not so well rooted as those layed earlier.

1851.  B’ham & Midl. Gardeners’ Mag., May, 68. Lay and peg your plants.

  b.  dial. ‘To lay a hedge, to trim it back, cutting the boughs half through, and then bending them down and intertwining them so as to strengthen the fence’ (Wiltsh. Gloss.).

1765.  Museum Rust., IV. 80. Making, plashing and laying live hedges.

1851.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XII. II. 336. The fences … have been plashed and laid.

  II.  To deposit.

  7.  To place in a position of rest on the ground or any other supporting surface; to deposit in some situation specified by means of an adverb or phrase. † To lay lake: to offer sacrifice (quot. 1225).

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxi. 8. Hia ʓeðurscon tuiggo of treum & ʓebredon vel leʓdon on weʓ.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 101. Ða ileaffullen brohton heore gersum, and leiden heo et þere apostlan fotan.

c. 1200.  Moral Ode, 12, in Trin. Coll. Hom. Alto muchel ic habbe ispend, to litel ileid on horde.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 14666. Sniþ itt, alls itt wære an shep, & leȝȝ itt upponn allterr.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1895. Ȝef þu leist lac to ure liuiende godes.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7186. Vp [Sampson] bar þe yatis o þe tun, And laid þam on a hei dun.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3234. Þat men miȝt legge him mete & wateren atte wille.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 429. He can it ta,… and syne it lade In his slefe.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 369. He was wont to legge his heed uppon a forme of þe chirche.

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 186. Lymed leues were leyde all aboute.

c. 1450.  Two Cookery-bks., 109. Take brede … and make it broune, and ley hit in vynegre.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xii. 14. Thornis laid in thy way.

1535.  Coverdale, Lev. i. 8. Y^e peces … shal they laye vpon the wodd.

1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Matt. viii. 20. The sonne of man hath not where to lay his head. [So 1611; earlier versions ‘rest.’]

1604.  E. Grimstone, D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. xxiv. 394. Al the people did humble themselves, laying earth vpon their heads.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort., July (1679), 21. If it prove too wet, lay your pots side-long.

1666.  Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual., 355. I had layd it upon a piece of white Paper by the fires side to dry.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 31. Laying a Ruler over the Intersections … draw the line GH.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 64. Plaister thou their chinky Hives with Clay, And leafy Branches o’er their Lodgings lay.

1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, Commodus, ii. 233. He layd the Book upon the Bed.

1838.  T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 676. Two pieces of paper … were laid upon each other, and allowed to dry.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 532. He had contrived to scatter lampoons about the terrace of Windsor, and even to lay them under the royal pillow.

  8.  With mixture of sense 1.

  a.  To place (a person, one’s limbs, oneself) in a recumbent posture in a specified place. To be laid: to lie down, recline († formerly sometimes without a specifying adv. or phrase).

c. 1200.  Ormin, 3401. Þeȝȝ fundenn þær þe child Þær itt wass leȝȝd i cribbe.

c. 1275.  Sinners Beware, 284, in O. E. Misc., 81. Ye me … leyden in softe bedde.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8604 (Cott.). Wimmen … Þat lais [MS. Trin. leyn] in bedd yong barn þam bi.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. B. 208. Whan I was leyd, and had myn eyen hed.

c. 1475.  Partenay, 2889. But slepe myght he noght when that he was led.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron. Hen. V., 80. Kyng Henry wexed sicker and sicker, and so was layd in a horselitter.

a. 1598.  Peele, Merrie Jests (c. 1620), 13. With much ado her maid had her to bed, who was no sooner layd, but she fell fast asleepe.

1608.  Topsell, Serpents (1658), 756. When he is laid, he careth not for rising again.

a. 1701.  Sedley, Pindaric Ode, Wks. 1778, II. 17. The bleating sheep are laid; And on the earth the nightly dew distils.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 321. The coarse jollity of the afternoon was often prolonged till the revellers were laid under the table.

1849.  Aytoun, Poems, Hermotimus, ii. Fain I’d lay me gently by thy side.

1853.  M. Arnold, Scholar-Gipsy, iii. The bent grass where I am laid.

  b.  To deposit in the grave; to bury. Only with adv. or phrase indicating the place. To lay one’s bones: to be buried (in a specified place).

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xx. 15. Seʓe me hwar þu hine ledest [c. 1160 Hatton Gosp., leydest].

11[?].  O. E. Chron., an. 1075 (Laud MS.). Se cyng hi let bryngan to Westmynstre … & læʓde hi wið Eadward kyng hire hlaforde.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 51. Efterþan þet þe mon bið dead, me leið þene licome in þere þruh.

c. 1205.  Lay., 17842. Leggeð me an æst ænde inne Stan-henge.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 2251. We … þæt licome awei ledden & leiden in eorðe.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 816. Fowre biried ðor ben; ðor was leid adam and eua, Abram siðen and sarra.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17794. Lang es gan Sin þai war ded, laid vnder stan.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (Katerine), 1179. Angelis … hire body bare to mont synay, & lait It þare.

1388.  Wyclif, Acts xiii. 36. Dauid … diede, and was leid with hise fadris.

a. 1400.  Prymer (1891), 50. Thei leyde hym in his graue.

1578.  W. Hunnis, in Parad. Dainty Devices, 2. After they be layde in graue.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XI. 310. Part, in the Places where they fell, are laid.

1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 57. The Air so salubrious, that never any English are remembered to lay their Bones here.

1836.  W. Irving, Astoria, I. 121. My uncle was lost a few years ago on this same bar, and I am now going to lay my bones alongside of his.

1853.  M. Arnold, Scholar-Gipsy, xiv. Thou from earth art gone Long since, and in some quiet churchyard laid.

1879.  Morley, Burke, ix. 206. He was laid in the little church at Beaconsfield.

  c.  To lay to sleep, asleep: to put to rest; to put in the last resting-place, to bury; also fig. Also to lay to rest, † abed, † to bed.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14199. Lazar vr freind es laid on-slepe.

1340–70.  Alisaunder, 823. Hee sawe … How þat louelich lif laide was a bedde, And a gracious God gripte hur in armes.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 10410. Thai … logget þe long nyght, layd hom to rest.

1591.  Spenser, Teares Muses, 183. O! all is gone; and all that goodly glee … Is layd abed, and no where now to see.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. ii. 232. Royall Wench: She made great Cæsar lay his Sword to bed. Ibid. (1610), Temp., II. i. 284. Whom I, with the obedient steele, (three inches of it,) Can lay to bed for euer.

1676.  Hobbes, Iliad, XIV. Table Contents, Juno by the help of Venus layeth Jove asleep.

1692.  trans. Sallust, 33. Malice and Pride were laid asleep.

1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, Commodus, ii. 235. The Poyson soon layd him to sleep.

1814.  J. Hunter, Who wrote Cavendish’s Wolsey? 13. There is, in this, what might lay a general biographer, who was a very Argus, asleep.

1869.  A. W. Ward, trans. Curtius’ Hist. Greece, II. II. v. 112. He was laid to rest among his ancestors.

1881.  Gardiner & Mullinger, Study Eng. Hist., I. x. 186. The questions springing out of the Toleration Act had long been laid asleep.

  9.  To produce and deposit (an egg). Also absol. Often in fig. contexts.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., III. 204. Henne æʓru lecgan ʓestreon mid carfulnysse ʓe[tacnað].

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 66. Þe hen hwon heo haueð ileid, ne con buten kakelen.

13[?].  K. Alis., 568. A faukon … An ay he laide.

c. 1420.  Pallad. on Husb., I. 583. Wiltow they oftyn hacche & eyron grete They legge.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 146. Thou must take hede how thy hennes duckes & gees do ley.

1553.  Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 9. I wold be loth to lay an egge, wherof other men might hatche a serpent.

1611.  Bible, Isa. xxxiv. 15. There shall the great owle make her nest, and lay and hatch.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. iii. 625. Like Nest-eggs, to make Clients lay.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 120, ¶ 14. When she has laid her Eggs in such a manner that she can cover them.

1780.  Cowper, Progr. Err., 239. Remorse, the fatal egg by Pleasure laid In every bosom where her nest is made.

1830.  Marryat, King’s Own, xli. One of the hens laid astray.

1841.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., II. I. 23. [They] lay their eggs in the bodies of other insects.

1884.  Times (weekly ed.), 19 Sept., 6/4. [Pheasants] lay freely in the thick coverts on the hillsides.

  † 10.  To deposit (payment). Obs. rare.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 299. God forbid … That for and nichtis harbery Pay suld be laid.

  † 11.  With advb. phr. as complement, e.g., to wed, to pledge, in pawn: To deposit as a pledge or in pawn; hence, to mortgage (lands). Also, to lay a wed. Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8083. He … leide willam is broþer to wedde normandye.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 205. They myghten lyghtly ley hire hede to borowe.

1377.  Langland, P. Pl., B. XVIII. 31. Lyf … leyth his lif to wedde, þat [etc.].

1389.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 8. Þat þey leye a suffisaunt wed.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), ii. 6. Þe emperour had layd þam [þise relyques] in wedd for a grete soume of gold.

1461.  Paston Lett., No. 407, II. 33. A dyamaunt and a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure fader.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xiii. 22. Sum bydand the law layis land in wed.

1530.  Palsgr., 603/1. I lay to morgage, as one dothe his herytage.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, cxlvi. 552. Without … laynge to plegge any fote of londe pertenynge to my churche.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 246 b. That he laie to them againe in mortgage so mutch of hys owne landes.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 5. I haue beene content (Sir) you should lay my countenance to pawne.

1600.  Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 365. She layd part of her owne iewels … to gage.

1609.  Skene, Reg. Maj., 49. Ane thing is laid in wad to ane certaine day.

1698.  [R. Fergusson], View Eccles., 53 (61). I do pledge and lay my Word to pawn that [etc.].

  † b.  To give up as a hostage. Also, to lay a hostage. Obs.

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 2476. My bodi þerfore in ostage I legge.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. lxxxviii. 110. He layed his sonne in hostage. Ibid. (a. 1533), Huon, xiii. 37. Y^e kyng sayd that Huon muost lay hostage. Ibid., xviii. 51. I wyll thou layest vnto me good hostages.

a. 1557.  Diurn. Occurr. (Bannatyne), 10. The next yeir therefter he was redeemit and his tua sones laid for him.

  12.  To put down or deposit as a wager; to stake, bet or wager (a sum, one’s head, life, etc.). Also to lay a wager.

a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 786 (Hausknecht). Ȝerne he wile þe bidde and preie, Þat þu legge þe cupe to pleie.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5598. A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley Þat [etc.].

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 678. Þai ȝolden me þat y layd.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2169. I der leye mi lif hit was þe liþer treytour.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. IX. 291. Ich dar legge myn eres.

1404.  in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 36. I durste lae my hede, that [etc.].

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. ii. 145. Y dare avowe and dare leie what waiour eny man wole me forto leie, that [etc.].

1530.  Palsgr., 602/1. I lay a nobyll agaynst a peny that it is nat so.

1573.  New Custom, I. ii. B j. Harke Simplicitie hee is some preacher I wyll lay my gowne.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. v. 111. I will lay oddes, that ere this yeere expire, We beare our Ciuill Swords … As farre as France.

1632.  J. Pory, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 277. Hee would lay ten to one, the king was dead.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 79, ¶ 5. I’ll lay what Wager she pleases against her present Favourite.

1784.  Cowper, Tiroc., 863. Canst thou … Lay such a stake upon the losing side?

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1806), I. iv. 19. He spent his time in training horses, laying bets [etc.].

1887.  Bowen, Virg. Eclog., III. 29. This heifer I lay thee lest thou decline … what stake for the coming battle is thine?

1891.  F. W. Robinson, Her Love & His Life, III. VI. iii. 135. I never lay wagers.

  b.  absol. or intr. To wager, bet.

  In ME. poetry I lay, I dare lay is often used as little more than a rhyming expletive.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 2367. Of Charlemeyn ne his ferede nabbeþ þay non help, y legge.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 166. There I seye Mo wonder thynges dar I leye.

c. 1420.  Avow. Arth., xxxviii. Him is lefe I dar lay, To hald that he heȝte.

c. 1470.  Golagros & Gaw., 95. Yhit ar thi latis vnlufsum and ladlike, I lay.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. xiv. 15. Yet darre I laye, y^t thou shalt be brought downe to the depe of hell.

1677.  W. Hughes, Man of Sin, III. i. 13. She offers a Wager…. They lay: and ’twas for what the Friar owed.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 143. Rooking Gamesters never lay Upon those Hands, that use fair Play.

1777.  Mad. D’Arblay, Early Diary (1889), II. 211. I ventured not to lay against her, because I thought her rather too much in the secret.

1883.  Stevenson, Treas. Isl., IV. xx. I know a gentleman, and you may lay to that.

1889.  Mary E. Carter, Mrs. Severn, I. I. xiii. 254. I lay I’ll keep drier on my own shanks.

  † 13.  trans. To relinquish, sacrifice (one’s life); = lay down (51 e). Obs.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 7188 (Kölbing). Oȝain … bare him þurch wombe & rigge, His liif he dede him þere legge. Ibid., 2026, 6426.

1340.  Ayenb., 149. We ssolle legge oure zaules uor oure broþren.

c. 1430.  Christ’s Compl., 591, in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 201. For þi loue my lijf y laied.

1567.  Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 142. Than suld we outher do or die, Or ellis our lyfe we suld lay for it.

  † 14.  To lose the faculty of (speech). north. Obs.

c. 1350.  Medical MS., in Archæologia, XXX. 354. Ȝif a man for sekenesse hat leyde speche.

1566.  Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1835), 261. Thes things hearafter fouloing was propounded to him when he had layd spetch, and he … gau his consent by sygnes.

1637–50.  Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 439. He hoped that he should yit speak, suppose it be said that his speech is laid, and show his awin mynde.

  III.  To place, set, apply.

  15.  To place close to; to put to for a purpose, to apply; sometimes const. on, upon. † To lay ear to: to give ear to, listen or attend to. To lay to heart: see HEART sb. 42.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 2336 (Gr.). Abraham … leʓde hleor on eorðan.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xxi. 7. Þæt Sarra sceolde lecgan cild to hyre breoste to ʓesoce on ylde.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., III. 86. Nim winʓeardes sæt & … leʓe uppan þat sar.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 197. Þe neddre secheð a ston and leið hire on eare þer to.

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 359. Is non at nede ðat oðer lateð, Oc leiȝeð his skinbon on oðres lendbon.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 16340 (Cott.). Pilate … Of his clothes vn-clethes him, And oþer on him did lai. Ibid., 23831 (Cott.). Selden com we sarmon nere … Þe ere þar-to selden we lai. Ibid. (c. 1340), 1241 (Trin.). Vpon his spade his brest he leide.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paulus), 388. Þe hevid þan to þe fete þai lad … and … a-bowt turnyt þe ded body.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 44. The Fende … leith a laddre there-to, of lesynges are the ronges.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 291. That he that fully knoweth therbe May savely ley hyt to his ye.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 7611. Ley no deef ere to my speking.

c. 1450.  ME. Med. Bk. (Heinrich), 201. Tak yarwe & le þe rotos y brused to þe teþ.

1526.  Tindale, Luke iii. 9. Nowe also ys the axe leyd vnto the rote off the trees.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 145. Lay not a flattering Vnction to your soule, That not your trespasse, but my madnesse speakes. Ibid. (1605), Macb., I. iii. 44. By each at once her choppie finger laying Vpon her skinnie lips.

1611.  Bible, Ezek. xxxvii. 6. I wil lay sinewis vpon you, and wil bring vp flesh vpon you.

1817.  Blackw. Mag., II. 86/1. Instead of passing the one-horse chaise, he [a horse] laid his counter close up to it, and stopt it.

1877.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xiv. 124. He had laid the spark to the train.

  † b.  To attach, add, annex to.

a. 1023.  Wulfstan, Hom. (Napier), 274. Leofan menn, laʓjað gode woroldlaʓan and lecgað þærtoeacan, þat [etc.].

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1434. Se rudie & se reade ilitet eauereuch leor as lilie ileid to rose.

1388.  Wyclif, Ecclus. xviii. 5. It is not to make lesse, nether to leie to.

1560.  Bible (Genev.), Isa. v. 8. Wo vnto them that ioyne house to house, and lay field to field.

1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. xi. (Arb.), 117. He conquered … Egypt, and layd it to his dominion.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 53. The townes next to the marches … laid to Bœtica.

1647.  N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. ii. (1739), 20. The Incumbent also of every Church had Glebe laid to the Church.

a. 1656.  Ussher, Ann., VI. (1658), 253. A multitude of townes and villages … all which he laid to Porus his Kingdom.

1819.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 373. The buildings … may be removed and part of the land laid to the street in the intended line of improvement.

  † c.  To lay from, off: to put away from (oneself); to take (one’s fingers) off something. Obs.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 684. His clathis all fra hym he lad.

1526.  Tindale, Eph. iv. 22. Laye from you that olde man, which is corrupte thorowe the deceavable lustes.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., I. ii. 243. He was very loath to lay his fingers off it.

1611.  Bible, Jonah iii. 6. He laid his robe from him.

  † d.  To put in or commit to (prison). Obs.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2693. Ðor ise son he leide in bonde.

1434.  Waterf. Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 297. The said citsaine … shal be commytted and layed to jayle.

1526.  Tindale, Luke iii. 20. Then Herode … added this above all and leyd Jhon in preson.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 426. Hughe Latimer … whome kyng Edward delivered out of the tower, layd in there by his father for doctrine.

  † e.  To compare with. Obs.

1577.  H. I., trans. Bullinger’s Decades, II. viii. 192. They conferre the one with the other & lay them with the lawe.

  f.  To lay into or in one: to convert into one apartment or structure. ? local.

1849.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., X. II. 412. Two bad cottages of one room each, if laid into one, might make an extremely good one.

1867.  R. Willis, in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), III. 174. Whenever the additional structure is completed, this wall can be removed, and the whole will be laid in one.

  † g.  To lay a name on: to give a name to.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9827. His names er þir, wit-vten les, Þat þe prophet has on him laid. Ibid., 10577. Maria to nam on hir þai laid, Als þe angel had þam forwit said.

  h.  To put (dogs) on a scent. (Cf. 55 i.) Also, To lay a trail on (a quarry).

1781.  Cowper, Expost., 520. Thy soldiery, the Pope’s well-managed pack … when he laid them on the scent of blood, Would hunt a Saracen through fire and flood.

1861.  Temple Bar, IV. 53. He gets a little ‘law’ before the pack are laid upon his track.

1888.  H Ffennell, in Times, 13 Oct., 7/6. A trail should be laid on a man who makes his way along both frequented and unfrequented streets and on to some railway station.

  16.  a. To place (affection, hope, confidence) on or in a person or thing. † Also, to lay praise, one’s blessing, etc., upon. To lay † prize, store upon: to value, set store by. arch.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 18341. On all his santes … His saing laid þat drightin dere.

a. 1307.  Thrush & Night., 158, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 56. Thou art ounwis, On hem to leggen so michel pris.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 1448. Þe loos on hire is leide.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1846. For he nil falsen no wight, dar I seye, That wol his herte al hoolly on him leye.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 236. Sic loiss on hym-self he laide.

1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 65. My luf is laid apon ane knycht.

1580.  Sidney, Ps. XXI. vii. Our king In heav’n his trust hath laied.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, III. iii. 2. We Great in our hope, lay our best loue and credence Vpon thy promising fortune.

1719.  Watts, Ps. CXXI. i. To heav’n I lift my waiting eyes, There all my hopes are laid.

1883.  R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. xiv. 45. And though on Blanche his love was wholly laid.

1889.  Doyle, M. Clarke, xxxiii. 365. Neither now or at any time … have I laid great store upon my life.

  † b.  To lay (one’s care, concerns) on God: to commit, trust to Him. Obs.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 2381. And all ȝho leȝȝde þatt o Godd & onn hiss lefe wille, Þatt he þæroffe shollde don All whattse hiss wille wære.

1671.  Milton, P. R., II. 54. Let us be glad of this, and all our fears Lay on his Providence.

  17.  To lay … before: to place in front of, to bring to the sight of; hence, to bring to the notice of, to submit to the consideration of; † pass. to be in store for. (Cf. branch IV.)

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xxxi. 37. Leʓe hit her beforan þinum freondum.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 15714 (Trin.). Muchel woo if he wist is bifore him leide.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, vi. (Thomas), 102. A blak hund … gat It, & lad before þame all.

c. 1420.  Pallad. on Husb., I. 661. When she fynt a corn, She chicketh hem and layth hit hem byfore.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 14. They … brought the pryce therof, and layde it before the fete of the apostles.

1535.  Coverdale, Gen. xxx. 41. He layed the staues in the drynkinge troughes before the eyes of the flockes. Ibid., 1 Chron. xxi[i]. 10. Thre thinges laye I before the, chose y^e one of them.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 457, ¶ 1. I shall this Day lay before any Reader a Letter.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1734), II. 602. The Lower House ordered him to lay the Matter before the Attorney-General for his Opinion.

1729.  Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 90. We ought to lay these things plainly and honestly before our mind.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xxviii. I hope you have no objection to laying your case before the uncle.

1849.  Aytoun, Poems, Buried Flowers, 163. And I laid my heart before thee, Laid it, darling, at thy feet!

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. ii. 94. Cardinal Morton … laid the condition of the secular clergy before the assembled prelates.

  18.  To set (a snare, a trap, an ambush); † to set (watch). To lay wait: see WAIT sb. (and AWAIT sb.).

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 209. Ure fo … leið grune in a wilderne to henten þe deor.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 16894. Ȝeming on him yee lai.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 10743. The ledes withoute … Laidon wacche to þe wallis, þat no wegh past.

c. 1440.  Bone Flor., 1358. To kepe the place day and nyghtys, And wach abowte hur lay.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiii. 262. We … layde our busshement in a lytell wood.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. lxiv. 5. [They] commoned amonge them selues, how they maye laye snares.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 222 b. Watche was privilie leyd for him.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 22. Thou layd’st a Trap to take my Life.

1670.  A. Roberts, Adv. T. S., 111. The first time they laid an Ambuscado in their way.

a. 1859.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. V. 93. Melfort was particularly active in laying traps for the young noblemen and gentlemen of the Legation.

  b.  intr. To lay for: to set an ambush or a trap for; to beset the path of; to lie in wait for, waylay.

1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. 300. ii. M. of his men … were layde for, & distressyd.

1530.  Palsgr., 602/1. I laye for, as hunters or fysshers layeth his nettes for his praye, je tens. I have layde for a pickrell, but I wene I shall catche a frogge.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 569. Being … hardly laied for at sea by Cortugogli a famous pirat.

1609.  Holland, Amm. Marcell., XIX. ix. 134. The inhabitants beyond Tigris, streightly layed for, were all massacred every mothers child.

1623.  Massinger, Dk. Milan, V. i. L 3. Men in debt … layd for by their creditors.

1648.  Bp. Hall, Select Th., 84. Even our Blessed Leader … when he found that he was laid for in Judæa, flees into Galilee.

1893.  Nat. Observer, 20 May, 22/1. He was ‘laid for’ by a scoundrel whom, being a magistrate, he had sent up for trial.

1897.  Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 291. The men go and lay for a rubber-hunter.

  † c.  trans. To set watch or guard in (a place); to beset; to search (a place) for. Obs.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 77. Somuche as the waye is layde, that I can neyther come nor sende unto you.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. x. 4. I … durst not peepe out, for all the Country is laid for me.

1607.  Middleton, Your Five Gallants, IV. G 4 b. Maister Primero was rob’d of a Carkanet vpon monday last; laid the Goldsmiths and found it. Ibid. (1608), Trick Catch Old One, I. ii. I have been laying all the town for thee.

1621.  H. King, Serm., 3. As exquisite gluttons lay all markets for fare.

a. 1645.  Heywood, Fort. by Land & Sea, II. Wks. 1874, VI. 390. Continue our pursuit, all ways are layd.

  19.  To lay siege to, † unto, † about, † against, † before: to besiege; also fig. to attack. † Also to lay battery, blockade to.

c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 2071. The sege he did leyen a-bowte On every side of that Cite.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 258. King Herri leieth a sege to Harflew.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XX. x. 814. All his hoost made hem redy to laye syege aboute sir Launcelot.

1485.  Caxton, Chas. Gt., 205. He layed syege before it by the space of foure monethes.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xlii. 53. Gar lay ane sege vnto ȝone fort.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 184. King Fernando besegeth Offen or Buda and layeth to it battery.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 244. To lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Fords wife.

1647.  May, Hist. Parl., III. v. 98. Three daies after the siege was layed.

1713.  Light to Blind, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 200. His General … had lay’d a blocade … to Girona with 12,000 men.

1877.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. i. 5. He laid siege to Roxburgh Castle.

  † 20.  To post or station (a body of soldiers, etc.); to station (post-horses) along a route. Also, to beset (a place) with soldiers. Obs.

1454.  Paston Lett., I. 271. The seide Thomas … layde dyvers folks arraied in maner of werre … in ij busshements.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xc. 113. The lorde Loyes … and sir Othes Dornes, were layd on the see about Gernzay.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 14. He … layed captaynes in y^e stronge cities of Iuda.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 208. Without anye army layd … to kepe the Erle from landyng.

1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron., I. 87/2. They … laie the sea coasts full of souldiers.

1596.  Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 664/1. There is a bande of souldiours layed in Mounster.

1689.  Shadwell, Bury F., IV. Wks. 1720, IV. 182. He has laid horses, and will be ready to escape.

1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, III. 299. Parties of Horse … were laid on the Road between Antwerp and that Town, to Escort his Grace.

1862.  Temple Bar, VI. 566. I travelled in a manner which … used to be … very common in India…. It is called ‘laying horses’; that is, you ‘lay’ out a horse every seven or eight miles along the road you are going to take.

  b.  To place or locate (a scene). † Also, to assign to a specified locality. To lay the venue: see the sb.

1570–6.  Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 185. The book of Domesday (speaking of Apuldore) laieth it in the hundreth of Blackburne.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., Prol. 2 (Qo. 1597). In faire Verona, where we lay our Scene.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 145. Other Geographers … lay it as a dependant annexed to Affrick.

1668.  Dryden, Dram. Poesie, Ess. (ed. Ker), I. 83. The scene of it [The Silent Woman] is laid in London.

1784.  Cowper, Task, IV. 697. I never framed a wish or formed a plan … But there I laid the scene.

1868.  Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, ii. (1870), 34. In the legend of the birth of Eurustheus, the scene is laid in Ἄργος Ἀχαἴκόν.

  21.  With object denoting a member of the body.

  a.  gen. To place (one’s limbs, etc.) in a certain position.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 115. And summe leiden the legges a-liri as suche losels cunne.

1530.  Palsgr., 602/1. Laye your legges a crosse and I wyll teache you a play.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 424 (Qo.). Then layed his leg Ouer my thigh, and sigh’d, and kissed.

1842.  Tennyson, Beggar Mail, 1. Her arms across her breast she laid.

1859.  Jephson, Brittany, iii. 29. The horse who was caressed in this affectionate style had scarcely the spirit even to lay back his ears.

  † b.  To lay eyes on: to ‘set eyes on,’ look at.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 56. Heo lette him leggen eien on hire.

1676.  Marvell, Mr. Smirke, 42. The fairest thing that ever eyes were laid on.

1818.  W. Irving, Sketch-bk., Leg. Sleepy Hollow. From the moment Ichabod laid his eyes upon these regions of delight, the peace of his mind was at an end.

  c.  To lay hands (or † hand) on or upon († also in, to) a person or thing; (in the earliest quots. const. dat. pron. as indirect obj. with on adv.): (a) in lit. sense, to place one’s hands on or apply them to, esp. for purposes of appropriation or in violence; hence (b) to seize, get hold of, appropriate; (c) to do violence to; now to lay violent hands on (with oneself = to commit suicide); (d) to perform the rite of imposition of hands in confirmation or ordination.

c. 1000.  Riddles, lxxx. 4 (Gr.). Cwen mec hwilum hwitloccedu hond on leʓeð.

c. 1205.  Lay., 8192. Ne funde he nonne swa kene mon, Þat hond him durste leggen on.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 4113. And ðine hondes ley him on, Sey him on ðin stede to gon.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 994. Neuere more he him misdede, Ne hond on him with yuele leyde.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12893 (Cott.). A! lon … nan was worthier þan þou Hand to lai on suete iesu To giue him þat hali sacrament. Ibid. (c. 1340), 19393 (Fairf.). On ham þai laide þaire hali hande & a quile ware praiande.

1340.  Ayenb., 41. Sacrilege is … huanne me layþ hand ine kueade ine clerk.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 321. Alle þo þat leyn hond on fadir or modir in violence ben cursed of God and man.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxii. 479. It is trouth that X rybawdes cam here ryght now and layd hande vpon me.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lviii. 199. Gerames … layd handes on him, as though he toke hym prysoner.

1550.  Crowley, Last Trump., 9. If God haue layede hys hande on the, And made the lowe.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 362. There was no great Ship on the Sea that the French men could lay theyr handes upon.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 192. Oh heere he is; lay hand vpon him, Sir.

1606.  G. W., trans. Justine, XLIII. 135. By meanes whereof, the treason comming to light, the Ligurians were laide hand on.

1662.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Burial Dead (Rubric), Or have laid violent hands upon themselves.

1726.  Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 55. I loaded them with … any thing I could lay my Hands on.

1784.  Cowper, Task, II. 393. O ye mitred heads … lay not careless hands On skulls that cannot teach, and will not learn.

1860.  Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., xiii. Any object they think they can lay their thieving hands on.

1889.  Jessopp, Coming of Friars, ii. 99. A mob … laid hands on a quantity of timber fit for building purposes, and took it away bodily.

1890.  Guardian, 29 Oct., 1693/3. The Government have laid hands on the last fraction of the sum reserved for the redemption of the public debt.

  † d.  To lay (a) hand: to assist, ‘lend’ a hand.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 192. Happy is that man or child can lay a hand to help to draw it.

1645.  Pagitt, Heresiogr. (1662), 46. Alas our poor Church is oppressed, and who layeth hand to help?

  e.  To lay a finger or one’s finger(s upon: see FINGER sb. 3 a.

1724.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 157. The Parliament began to lay their fingers on the great ones.

1836.  Keble, Serm., viii. Postscr. (1848), 376. To select for himself a certain number of divine truths out of the great body of the Scriptures, on which he may lay his finger and say; This, and this alone, is the Gospel.

1865, 1894.  [see FINGER sb. 3 a].

  22.  To lay hold (up)on, of: to take into one’s grasp, to grasp, seize on (with material and immaterial obj.); to avail oneself of (a pretext).

1535.  Coverdale, Prov. iii. 18. She is a tre of life to them that laye holde vpon her.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 54. If he presume to enter our house … we lay holde on his locks, turne him away with his backe full of stripes.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. vi. 221. Hee was forced to lay holde vpon a braunch.

1611.  Bible, Matt. xiv. 3. For Herode had layd hold on Iohn, and bound him. Ibid., 1 Tim. vi. 12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternall life.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 889. Stealing closely, or openly, any thing they could lay hold on.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 194, ¶ 12. For offering in so rude a Manner to lay hold on a Virgin.

1714.  Addison, Spect., No. 556, ¶ 5. I laid hold of all Opportunities to exert it.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 245. Lady Dysert laid hold on his absence in Scotland to make a breach between them.

1726.  G. Roberts, Four Years Voy., 26. I was willing to lay hold of the Frieght offered, for fear his Sloop should come.

1836.  Marryat, Midsh. Easy, ii. So saying, the boatswain lays hold of the boy.

1874.  Helps, Soc. Press., ii. 24. There is no municipality which can lay hold of this land.

  23.  refl. and intr. To apply oneself to; † to set oneself against.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. ii. 29. Why layest thou thy selfe then agaynst my sacrifices and meatofferinges?

1856.  Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxix. 297. Not even after the death of the usuk did our men lay to their oars more heartily.

1865.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVIII. xii. (1872), VIII. 21. When Friedrich laid himself to engineering, I observe, he did it well.

  24.  Mil. To set (a gun, etc.) in the correct position for hitting a mark. Also absol.

1480.  [see LAYING vbl. sb. 1].

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Arcus, Tendere aliquo arcum, to lay or leuell toward.

1859.  F. A. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (1862), 103. No 1 commands and lays.

1877.  Clery, Minor Tactics, xi. 134. Not … so much by the distance the gun can carry, as by the accuracy with which it can be laid.

1883.  Ld. Saltoun, Scraps, I. 224. A young officer of the line regiment asked to be allowed to lay the gun for that shot.

  25.  To put into a condition (usually one of subjection, passivity or exposure to view or danger: cf. the corresponding uses of LIE v.), which is expressed by a complementary adj., adv., or advb. phrase, as in to lay fallow, idle; to lay (land) dry, under water; lay under necessity, obligation, difficulty, a command, etc. To lay bare: (a) to denude, remove the covering from; (b) to expose to view, reveal. † To lay in forbode: to prohibit the use of. † To lay to sight: to reveal, disclose. To lay under contribution: see CONTRIBUTION 1 b. † To lay in (or a) water: fig. to make nugatory (see WATER). For lay open, waste, see the adjs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 765. Þe midward tre is vs outtan Our lauerd in forbot has it laid.

1563.  Homilies, II. Matrimony (1859), 513. Let him … never lay these matters to sight.

1703.  Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. 42. It lays him at the mercy of chance and humour.

1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, I. 156. He first laid the Country under Water.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., II. xii. 262. This laid us under a necessity of filling all our casks from the furthest part of the lake.

1748.  Chesterf., Lett. (1792), II. clxviii. 124. Which might … lay him under difficulties both what to say, and how to look.

1807.  Sir R. Wilson, Jrnl., 2 July, in Life (1862), II. viii. 291. I rowed part of the way in the queen’s boat, an exercise … of which my hands will long bear the marks, as they are laid bare over the whole of both palms.

1862.  Tyndall, Mountaineer., vi. 44. A space of comparatively dry clay was laid bare.

1877.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xxxi. 311. He was laid under orders to follow the commands of the Spanish king.

1897.  Daily News, 26 Feb., 7/3. Another workmen’s train was stopped … many workmen being thus laid idle for the day.

  b.  To lay fast: to set fast, render unable to proceed or escape; † formerly, to put in fetters, imprison (also † to lay fast by the feet). Also to lay by the heels: see HEEL sb.¹ 18.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 42 b. [They] required that they might be layde faste by the feete.

1584.  [see HEEL sb.¹ 18].

1623.  Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. Test., Apostles Dispersed. Then laid they his guide fast, that he might not any way escape by flight.

1677.  Otway, Cheats Scapin, I. i. I know how to lay that rogue my son fast.

1809.  Heber, in Q. Rev., II. 288. If we are laid fast by want of horses, or mutiny of drivers.

1889.  Doyle, M. Clarke, xxxiv. 308. He had heard that you were laid by the heels.

  c.  Naut. With advb. compl., as alongside, by the lee, etc. To lay aback (see quots. 1867, 1881).

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ix. 43. Lay the ship by the Lee to trie the Dipsie line.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), E e e 4 b. Mettre à Scier,… to back the sails, or lay them aback, so as to make the vessel fall astern.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 69. To bagpipe the mizen is to lay it aback, by bringing the sheet to the mizen-shrouds.

1869.  W. Longman, Hist. Edw. III., I. xviii. 326. The King ordered his ship to be laid alongside a large Spaniard.

1881.  Hamersly, Naval Encycl., To lay a yard aback, is to brace it in such a way that the wind will blow against the forward side of the sail.

1891.  Cornh. Mag., June, 583. Lay her two courses to the wind.

  d.  Naut. To lay … aboard: to run into or alongside (a ship), usually in order to board her. So to lay close, to lay athwart the hawse.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. i. 25. I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboord.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 19. That if we should be laid aboard, we might clear our Decks.

1707.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4369/3. The Sloop soon laid her aboard.

1731.  Capt. W. Wriglesworth, MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell,’ 2 July. A Collier lay’d us athwart the Hawse, and broke our Flying Jib Boom [etc.].

1799.  Nelson, Lett., 9 Feb., in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), III. 260. Lay a Frenchman close, and you will beat him.

1883.  Stevenson, Treas. Isl., xi. (1886), 90. Why, how many tall ships, think ye, now, I have seen laid aboard?

  † e.  To bring home to. Obs.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 71, ¶ 1. Such a Tract as shall lay Gaming home to the Bosoms of all who love … their Families.

  IV.  To present, put forward (cf. lay before, 17).

  28.  To put forward, allege (a claim, † reason, † excuse, † example, etc.): often with clause as obj.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 57. He leieþ [v.r. leiþ] for hym þe vers of þe sawter, ‘God schal nouȝt be wrooþ for everemore.’

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., III. xxiv. 193. I leye for myn excuse, that I haue to my power folowed my copye.

1481–4.  E. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 279. My huswyffe trustythe to ley to ȝow her huswyferey for her excuse.

1491.  Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 2 § 1. Courtes where the seid proteccions shalbe pleded or leyed for any of the seid persons.

1513.  More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 789. When he had layde for the proofe and confirmation of this sentence, examples taken out of the olde testament. Ibid. (1529), Dyaloge, III. Wks. 211/1. Many a witnesse was there to whom he layd none exception.

c. 1530.  L. Cox, Rhet. (1899), 82. He layeth for hym that his mothers abhominable iniury constrayned him thereto.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), F iij. We muste not lay excuses.

a. 1540.  Barnes, Wks. (1573), 345/1. The Priests layd that they were best worthy.

1562.  Apol. Priv. Masse, 4 b. If you haue no scriptures to lay for you, then trouble our mother the holy catholike churche no longer.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., I. i. 152. Plantagenet, for all the Clayme thou lay’st Thinke not, that Henry shall be so depos’d.

1601.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 198. These are the reasons which I meante to lay.

1647.  Cowley, Mistr., Written in Juice of Lemon, vii. And to her Hand lay noble claim.

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xxvi. I prevented it being given to any other, by laying claim to it myself.

  b.  To present (an information, indictment) in legal form.

1798.  Bay, Amer. Law Rep. (1809), I. 245. In an indictment for manslaughter, it is necessary to lay it to have been done voluntarily.

1838.  [see INFORMATION 5 a (a)].

1870.  Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 162. Information having been laid that he had forsworn himself.

1891.  Standard, 8 April, 5/1. Anyone,… whether personally aggrieved or not, may lay an information.

  c.  † (a) To assign (a date). (b) Law. To state or describe as; to fix (damages) at a certain amount.

c. 1440.  Palgrave, Life St. Kath., v. 1699. The day of her deth eke ful fayre he leyth Of nouembre moneth.

1770.  Foote, Lame Lover, II. Wks. 1799, II. 72. The field … is laid in the indictment as round.

1820.  Gifford, Compl. Eng. Lawyer, II. 248. The time of the death must be laid within a year and a day after the mortal stroke was given. Ibid. The facts must be laid to be done treasonably, and against his allegiance.

1891.  Athenæum, 7 March, 306/1. He laid his damages at 20,000l.; the arbitrators gave him one farthing.

  † d.  To expound, set forth, lay open. Obs.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1590), 16 b. And yet thus much I wil say for my selfe, that I haue not laid these matters, either so openly, or largely to any as your selfe.

  † e.  intr. To give information, tell. Obs. rare.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VII. 31. To lord Persye off this mattir thai laid.

  27.  To bring forward as a charge, accusation or imputation; to impute, attribute, ascribe (something objectionable). Const. to, † unto, † against, † in, on. ? arch.

c. 1425.  Lydg., Assemb. Gods, 208. Thow mayst be dismayde To here so gret compleyntes ayene the layde.

1473.  Warkw., Chron. (Camden), 5. There was leyde to him hye tresone.

c. 1530.  Hickscorner (c. 1550), C iv b. They sayde I was a thefe and layde felonye vppon me.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), C viij b. Lette no man … lay against the goddes, that they be cruell.

1580.  Sidney, Ps. XXXV. v. Who did me wrong against me wittnesse beare, Laying such things as never in me were.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 76. These objections which you laie against me.

1611.  Bible, Job xxiv. 12. God layeth not folly to them.

1690.  Wood, Life, 25 July. E. G. with child, lays on the tapster.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, I. iii. I’ll warrant ’tis not her first [illegitimate child], by her impudence in laying it to your worship.

1795–7.  Southey, Juvenile Poems, Poet. Wks. II. 236. That … you should lay to me Unkind neglect.

1861.  Temple Bar, II. 247. This was laid to her overweening pride.

1874.  Dasent, Half a Life, III. 288. He had of course to lay his sleeplessness on something, and so he laid it on the lobster salad.

1890.  Temple Bar, Oct., 296. I laid the theft on Bastonjee.

  b.  Phr. To lay to (a person’s) charge, at or to (his) door, † in (his) dish, † in (his) neck: to impute to, charge upon. Also to lay to one’s credit, † reproach, etc. (See also the sbs.)

1530.  Palsgr., 603/1. Wyll you laye thefte to his charge, and have no better a grounde?

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xxxiii. 102. It shall neuer be layde to my reproche.

1534.  Tindale, Acts vii. 60. Lorde laye not this synne to their charge.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., I. (Arb.), 66. The wickedness and follye of others shalbe imputed to hym, and layde in his nekke.

1551, 1722.  [see DISH sb. 1 d].

1681.  H. More, Exp. Dan., 195. The Pontifician Party have no reason to lay such things in the dish of the Reformed.

1701, 1749.  [see DOOR sb. 6].

1824.  Scott, St. Ronan’s, xxiii. Do not force a broken-hearted sister to lay her death at your door.

1885.  Mrs. C. L. Pirkis, Lady Lovelace, II. xxii. 53. You … laid his death to my charge.

1892.  Blackw. Mag., CLI. 156/2. This … must be laid to the credit of the Tories.

  V.  To impose as a burden.

  28.  To impose (a penalty, command, obligation, burden, tax, etc.). Const. on, upon, († to). (See also LOAD sb.)

a. 1000.  Guthlac, 685 (Gr.). Þæt ʓe … on his wergengan wite leʓdon.

11[?].  O. E. Chron., 1064 (Laud MS.). Hi læʓdon ærende on hine to þam cynge Eadwarde. Ibid., an. 1137. Hi læiden gæildes on the tunes.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 346. Þe preost ne þerf … leggen oðer schrift on ou.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 18455. Sant michael for-bot on us laid.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 336. It were as myche node to leye now as myche penaunce to summe, as [etc.].

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., cxx. Thus sall on the my charge bene Ilaid.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxi. 28. On fredome is laid foirfaltour.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxx. 240. You knowe the payne that I layde on your hedes yf Huon dyd not accomplysshe my message.

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), 1 Cor. ix. 16. For necessitie is layd vpon me [Gr. ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται], and wo is it vnto me, yf I preache not the Gospel.

1590.  Pasquil’s Apol., I. C iij b. People may not looke to lay all vppon the Parsons shoulders.

1621.  Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 66. Yf … the delinquent is worthy of a greate punishment; but, the question is, by whom yt is to be layed?

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., II. vi. § 6. We are not to think that an Oath layes any greater obligation upon God for performance, then the meer declaration of his will.

1697.  Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. xxi. (1715), 121. If a pecuniary Mulct was laid upon him.

1781.  D. Williams, trans. Voltaire’s Dram. Wks., II. 103. Once only do I mean to lay my commands upon you.

1790.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 153. The improbability that Congress would ever lay taxes where the States could do it separately.

1845.  McCulloch, Taxation, II. x. (1852), 345. An additional duty … was laid on windows.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxi. IV. 554. Northumberland strictly obeyed the injunction which had been laid on him.

1870.  Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 195. The burden of proof being laid on the accused person.

1877.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xxiv. 230. Severe fines were laid on all the villages.

1885.  ‘E. F. Byrrne’ (Emma Frances Brooke), Entangled, II. II. viii. 265. The dead mother has laid it upon you to find it.

  † b.  To quarter (soldiers) on or upon. Obs.

1612.  Davies, Why Ireland, etc. (1787), 43. The soldiers, for want of pay, were sessed and laid upon the subjects against their will.

1669.  Ormonde MSS., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 102. Wee require the souldiers … to draw off from the petitioner and his tenants, and … to … shew by what authority … they are layd uppon them. Ibid. It not being lawfull to lay souldiers on any persons.

  † c.  To assess, rate, tax (a person). Obs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 261. Marchaunt & burgeis to þe sext be laid.

1467.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 387. What persone that refuseth to paye, at that tyme as he ys assessed or leyd, shal paye to the comen cofre xl.d.

1707.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 45. He is still lay’d and tax’d for it.

1712.  Prideaux, Direct. Ch.-wardens (ed. 4), 47. The Lands, in respect of which he is lay’d, are out of the Parish.

  29.  To cast (blame, † aspersions, † ridicule) on or upon; also const. † in, † to.

13[?].  K. Alis., 1553. ‘Byschop,’ he saide, ‘there is a sclaunder, Y-layd on me kyng Alisaunder.’

c. 1330.  Spec. Gy Warw., 592. Many a skorn [was] on him leid [v.r. Ileide].

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 76. The blame upon the duke they laide.

1530.  Palsgr., 602/2. Why lay you the blame of this faute to me?

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 30. The fault is not to be layed in the thyng whiche was worthie to be written vpon.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 244. Yf any man shulde lay the blame in us.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 11. And laid the blame, not to his carriage, But to his starting steed that swarv’d asyde.

1647.  May, Hist. Parl., I. i. 14. A declaration … wherein aspertions were laid vpon some members.

1676.  C. Hatton, in Hatton Corr. (1878), 130. All y^e blame wase layd on y^e wine and he pardoned.

1820.  W. Irving, Sketch-bk., Rip van W. The good wives of the village … never failed … to lay all the blame on Dame van Winkle.

  30.  To lay stress, weight, emphasis on or upon: to emphasize, bring into special prominence, attach great importance to.

1666.  Pepys, Diary, 3 July. The House do not lay much weight upon him, or any thing he says.

1676.  Glanvill, Ess., vii. 33. They doated upon little, needless, foolish things, and lay’d a great stress of Religion upon them.

1686.  Horneck, Crucif. Jesus, viii. 136. The Greek Church to this day lays the stress of consecration upon the prayer of the Holy Ghost.

1700.  Wallis, in Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 327. He seems to lay weight on this.

1748.  J. Mason, Elocut., 26. To see that it [the Emphasis] be always laid on the emphatical Word.

1824.  L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 363. To lay the emphasis with exact propriety, is a constant exercise of good sense and attention.

1845.  McCulloch, Taxation, II. vi. (1852), 307. The only objection … on which any stress can be fairly laid.

1890.  T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, 234. The great teachers laid all the stress on dogma.

  31.  To bring (a stick, etc.) down upon; to inflict (blows). Also to lay it on (lit. and fig.).

c. 1314.  Guy Warw. (Auchinleck MS.), 7524. And we leyd on hem dintes grete.

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 338. They leid on þi leigis, Richard, lasshis y-now.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, lxi. 14. Thane is thair laid on me ane quhip.

a. 1550.  Christis Kirke Gr., xiv. The reird rais rudely with the rapps, Quhen rungswer layd on riggis.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., IV. iii. 268. Layest thou thy Leaden Mace vpon my Boy?

1833.  Macaulay, in Life & Lett. (1880), I. 337. I have laid it on Walpole … unsparingly.

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xx. 338. What if my son wishes to lay a stick on my back?

  32.  absol. and intr. To deal blows; to make an attack. Chiefly in phraseological expressions with preps. a. To lay on or upon: to attack vigorously, to beat soundly. (See also lay on, 55 b.)

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 292. Mid te holie rode steaue, þet him is loðest kuggel, leie on þe deouel dogge.

c. 1305.  Edmund Conf., 112, in E. E. P. (1862), 74. And euere seide þis holi man as he leide on hire faste Maide þu schalt lurny þus awei forto caste Þi fole wil of þi flesch.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 4046 (Kölbing). Ich on oþer gan to legge.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xvi. 425. Thar was none that I spard, bot lade on and dang them.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., lxii. 46. The whyte dragon egrely assaylled the reede and lay on hym so strongly that [etc.].

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 253 b. They layde on hym with theyr fystes and other wepens.

1590.  Webbe, Trav. (Arb.), 20. Ye Turkes woulde lay vpon them as vpon Horses, and beat them in such sort, as oft times they dyed.

c. 1610.  Women Saints, 146. He layeth on her with threates.

1640.  trans. Verdere’s Rom. Rom., I. x. 36. They laid upon one another with such fury, as [etc.].

1758.  Goldsm., Mem. Prot. (1895), II. 17. Rascal! replied the Tyrant, give me the Stick; and taking it in his Hand … with the most inhuman Barbarity he laid on the unresisting Slave.

1814.  Southey, Roderick, xxv. Laying on the Moors with that good sword.

  † b.  To lay to, unto: to assault, attack, press hard (lit. and fig.). Also to lay home, hard, hardly, to. Obs.

c. 1430.  Syr Tryam., 1073. Alle the fosters to hym cun lay Wyth sterne worde and mode.

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Mark xiv. 68, note. Peter prepareth him selfe to flee if he were farther layd vnto.

1581.  B. Riche, Farew. Mil. Prof., G iv b. The Marchaunt … with greate importunitie requested her in the waie of mariage, and so hardly he laied vnto her, that [etc.].

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 1. Looke you lay home to him.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 19. The warre was again begun, and the citie more hardly laid unto than before.

1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 109. At this instant they were assaulted, and hardly laid vnto vpon the hill.

1650.  Trapp, Comm., Gen., xlii. 329. He lays it hard to them still: As who should say, the longer I hear you, the worse I like you.

1724.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 284. I found my major hard laid to, but fighting like a lion.

  c.  To lay at: to aim blows or an attack at; to strike at; to attack, assail (lit. and fig.). In 15–18th c. often in indirect passive. Now chiefly dial.

a. 1400[?].  Arth. & Merl., 2464 (Kölbing). A 100 Sarazens … All att once att him layd.

1440.  J. Shirley, Dethe K. James (1818), 16. The traitours … laid at the chaumbur dors … with levours and with axes.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt., xii. 74. I am layed at with deadly deceytes.

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtier, IV. Vv ij. The beautiful women haue alwaies more suyters, and be more instantlye laide at in loue [It. sono piu … sollicitate d’amor], then the foule.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb., 214. Fiercely the good man at him did laye.

1600.  Holland, Livy, V. xxiv. 196. The … Senators … came forth to the multitude, and offered themselves to be laid at, smitten and slaine.

1611.  Bible, Job xli. 26. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. v. (1840), 102. Our men being thus hard laid at, Atkins wounded.

1728.  Ramsay, General Mistake, 82. Even beauty guards in vain, he lays at a’.

1876.  Surrey Gloss., The rabbits have laid at that wheat unaccountably.

1899.  Expositor, Jan., 54. The lie lays at the truth and the Truth must lay at the lie.

  d.  To lay into: to belabor; to ‘pitch into.’ slang or colloq.

1838.  D. Jerrold, Men of Char., John Applejohn, xiii. I shall be very happy … to go and hold the door, while you lay into the ruffian.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. iv. Laying into me with your little bonnet.

1876.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Tramp Abr., iii. (1880), I. 22. He [a bird] laid into his work like a nigger.

1887.  G. R. Sims, Mary Jane’s Mem., 108. She would lay into Master John with her stick.

  e.  To lay about one: to deal violent and repeated blows on all sides; occas. (trans.) to lay (a weapon) about one. Hence fig. to act vigorously, make strenuous efforts, do one’s utmost.

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 1036. Fast he leyd hym a-bowte All þat somyrres nyght.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. iv. 32. And with his brondiron round about him layd.

a. 1618.  Sylvester, Sonn., xvi. Wks. (Grosart), II. 39. When like a Lion to preserve her yong, Thou laydst about thee to redeeme the same.

1631.  R. Bolton, Comf. Affl. Consc., 49. Thou, that now laies about the for the world and wealth.

1674.  Essex Papers (Camden), I. 279. He lays about him on all hands where there is any the least project of gaine.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., III. vi. (1695), 244. Those Words, with which they are so armed at all points, and with which they so confidently lay about them.

1720.  Mrs. Manley, Power Love (1741), I. 55. How they laid about them to commend your Soul to God!

1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., To lay about one’s self … faire tous les efforts, remuěr ciel et terre.

1837.  Disraeli, Venetia, IV. xviii. They laid about them with their staves.

1889.  Doyle, M. Clarke, xxxii. 353. We cut a way to his rescue, and laid our swords about us.

  † 33.  impers. Of the wind, weather: To be violent. Obs.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 139. Sa troublit with stormis was I neuer stad; Of ilk airt of the Eist sa laithly it laid.

[Cf. 1825–80.  Jamieson, To Lay On. 1. To rain, to hail, to snow heavily; as ‘It’s layin’ o’ snaw.’]

  † 34.  To strike, beat (a person) on the face, over the head, etc. To lay on the lips: to kiss. Obs.

  In these uses the personal obj. is prob. to be regarded as a dative.

1530.  Palsgr., 602/2. I lay hym on the face … I layde hym betweene the necke and the shoulders that I made hym grone.

1599.  Massinger, etc. Old Law, II. ii. (1656), E 1 b. Ile lay you o’th lips and leave you.

1602.  Marston, Ant. & Mel., II. Wks. 1856, I. 25. Faith, sweet, ile lay thee on the lips for that jest.

1628.  Earle, Microcosm., Upstart Country Knt. (Arb.), 38. Being once laid ore the shoulder with a Knighthood.

1690.  W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 228. He laid him over the face with his hands as hard as he could strike.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. v. The cook laid them over the pate with a ladle.

  VI.  To dispose or arrange in proper relative position over a surface.

  35.  trans. To place in the proper or designed position (something that extends horizontally, e.g., a foundation (often fig.), a floor, stones or bricks in building, etc.).

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xiv. 29. Syððan he þæne grundweall leʓð [c. 1160 Hatton Gosp. leiʓð].

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 13285 (Trin.). At þe see Iame & Ion he fonde As þei were lynes leyond.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 438. To legge lym oþur ston.

1382.  Wyclif, Heb. vi. 1. Not eftsoone leggynge the foundament of penaunce fro deede werkis.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 4149. About him lefte he no masoun, That stoon coude leye, ne quertour.

c. 1425.  Lydg., Assemb. Gods, 596. All the baytys that ye for hym haue leyde.

1495.  Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 23. The same herynges shuld be wele truly and justly leyed and packed.

1526.  Tindale, Heb. i. 10. Thou lorde in the begynnynge hast layde the foundacion of the erth.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 283. They lay traines of treason to overthrow their princes.

1644.  Digby, Nat. Bodies, x. (1645), 94. Proceeding upon our grounds before layed.

1662.  Gerbier, Princ., 33. Paviors (after the Bricks are laid) throw sharp Sand over them.

1680.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 217. You may begin at the Verge, and so lay several Grooves close by one another till you come to the Center.

1751.  Labelye, Westm. Br., 71. The laying the Foundation of Stone-Piers.

1800.  Mar. Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent, 44. She laid the cornerstone of all her future misfortunes at that very instant.

1818.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 651. The political conduct of the Governor-General lays sufficient ground for the presumption that [etc.].

1823.  P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 263. When you lay your floors, let the joints be fitted and tacked down.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxiii. 125. From the time her keel was laid, she had never been so driven.

1842–59.  Gwilt, Archit., § 1810. Slating is sometimes laid lozengewise.

1845.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VI. II. 266. The ordinary mode of farming is to lay the ground in ridges.

1848.  Chambers’s Inform., I. 489/1. That manner of ploughing and laying the ridges … which will best keep the land dry.

1890.  Cornh. Mag., Sept., 270. Forty years have now elapsed since the first submarine cable was laid.

  b.  To set out (a table), to spread (the cloth), place in order (the plates, dishes, knives and forks, etc.) in preparation for a meal; hence, in later use, to set out the table for (a meal). Also absol. † Also, to prepare (a bed).

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1722. Þanne [he] were set, and bord leyd.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 6508 (Kölbing). Þese weschen þis gentil man & leyd tables after þan.

c. 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, V. 388. The met all reddy grathit, Vith burdis set and clathis laid.

1530.  Palsgr., 603/1. Lay the table, for we must dyne in al the haste.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 11. Haue you layd faire the Bed?

1668–9.  Pepys, Diary, 8 Jan. Home to my wife’s chamber, my people having laid the cloth, and got the rooms all clean.

1788.  Clara Reeve, Exiles, III. 110. I made the servant lay his bed in order.

1797.  Mrs. Bennett, Beggar Girl, I. viii. 257. When the cloth was laying for supper.

1836.  Marryat, Japhet, lxxviii. I found that the table was laid for three.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xiv. A little dinner … was laid in the dining-room.

1861.  Dickens, Gt. Expect., iv. We found the table laid…, the dinner dressing.

1883.  Black, Shandon Bells, xviii. The little maidservant … laid the cloth.

1890.  Weyman, House of Wolf, iv. These gentlemen will not sup with me … Lay for them at the other end.

  c.  To trace (a ground-plan).

1594.  Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, V. When I was laying a platform for these walls.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 99. Danochares the Architect laid the modell and platforme therof [sc. of Alexandria] by a subtil and witty deuise.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 29. It is reported that when the workmen began to lay the platforme at Chalcedon, how certain Eagles conueyed their lines to the other side of the Streight.

  d.  † (a) To lay a buck: to put clothes in soak for washing (obs.). (b) To lay leaven (see quot. 1891).

  [Possibly confused (a) with some derivative of LYE, and (b) with LAY v.², ALLAY v.; but this is uncertain.]

1573.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 166. Maides, three a clock, knede, lay your bucks, or go brew.

1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Faire, Faire la buée, to lay, or wash, a bucke.

1633.  D. R[ogers], Treat. Sacraments, i. 42. Shee that cannot lay a leaven, but thinkes of the kingdome of Christ.

1891.  Sheffield Gloss., Suppl., Lay, to mix; only used in the phrase ‘to lay leaven,’ i.e. to mix the yeast with oat-meal in making oat-cake.

1893.  Northumb. Gloss., Lay, to mix dough for bread making. ‘Lay the breed’—to mix the flour with the yeast, to make the dough.

  e.  To lay a fire: to place the fuel ready for lighting.

1876.  Jevons, Logic Prim., 10. If one fire be laid and lighted exactly like another, it ought to burn like it.

1886.  Besant, Childr. Gibeon, II. i. The fire was laid … with the resinous wheels, which burn fiercely.

  f.  Printing. To lay type: ‘to put new sorts in cases’ (Jacobi, Printers’ Voc., 1888). Also, to lay the case.

1683.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, 200. The manner how the several sorts of Letters are disposed in the several Boxes, is called, Laying of the Case.

1808.  C. Stower, Printer’s Gram., vi. 151. Laying of Cases. This implies filling them with sorts of a new fount of letter.

  36.  To re-steel (a cutting instrument). dial.

1472–3.  [see LAYING vbl. sb. 1].

1475–6.  Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 25. Et sol. eidem pro le laynge ij axes, vjd.

1605.  Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 55. For layinge the church hack with new iron, viijd.

1620.  in Swayne, Churchw. Acc. (1896), 172. For Layinge the pickax 1s. 8d.

1893.  Wiltsh. Gloss., To lay a tool, to steel its edge afresh.

1893.  in Northumbld. Gloss.

  37.  Rope-making. To twist yarn to form (a strand), or strands to form (a rope).

1486.  [see LAYING vbl. sb. 1].

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., vii. 30. If the Cable bee well made, we say it is well laid.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 240. Those who were ashore made twice lay’d stuff for rigging.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 281. A bridle cable was laid perfectly pliant.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, 1070. The last part of the process of rope-making, is to lay the cordage. Ibid. (1853), II. 560. The manner of laying the yarns into ropes.

  b.  intr. said of the rope.

1796.  Encycl. Brit., XVI. 485/1. Then … the top comes away from the swivel … and the line begins to lay.

  38.  trans. In immaterial sense: To fix the outlines of, arrange, devise (a plan, plot, scheme); † to establish (a law), settle, lay down (a principle); † to draw up the plan of (a literary composition). To lay one’s account: see ACCOUNT sb. 15.

11[?].  O. E. Chron., an. 1086 (Laud MS.). He sætte mycel deorfrið & he læʓde laʓa þærwið.

c. 1430.  Freemasonry, 449. Suche ordynance at the semblé was layd.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. iii. 4. The plot is laid.

1616.  B. Jonson, Epigr., To weak Gamester in Poetry. I cannot for the stage a Drama lay, Tragick or Comick.

1644.  Milton, Judgm. Bucer, Wks. 1738, I. 87. If we retain our principles already laid.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, Life Æsop (1708), 8. Several Little Tales and Jests that I take to be neither well Laid, nor well put together.

1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, Marcus, v. 83. His Design had been long laid.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 401. The argument for it was laid thus.

1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, II. xi. 56. His schemes also were more artfully laid.

1880.  Libr. Univ. Knowl. (N. Y.), VIII. 381. When the conspiracy was laid to put Jesus to death.

  † b.  gen. To contrive, arrange. Obs.

1627.  Donne, Serm., v. (1640), 51. God had laid it so, that Moses should be setled this way.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, I. 62. Is it not great imprudence so to lay our business that any other matter shall thwart or thrust out devotion?

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. ii. We have laid it so, that he is to be in the next room.

  c.  intr. † To make arrangements or plans for (obs.); to plan, contrive or intend to do something (now dial. and U.S.). (Cf. lay out, 56 f.)

c. 1450.  Mirour Saluacioun, 2058. Saul laide for his dethe als for hys mortale enemy.

1573.  Tusser, Husb., lxvii. (1878), 156. Lay thou to saue,… And then thou shalt enriched be.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xiv. (1617), 222. Mans mind can skill … to lay earnestly for warre in seeking or enioying of peace. Ibid., Ovid’s Met., XII. 277. And what is wrought in all the world he leaies to vnderstand.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 413. Men loue rather to haue plenty from their vines, than otherwise lay for the goodnesse thereof.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 11. If he lay to please the one the other will be offended.

1648.  Symmons, Vind. Chas. I., 113. Mahomet layed to perpetuate his religion by introducing of ignorance, [etc.].

a. 1825.  Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Lay, to intend; to lay out; to lay a plan. Ex. ‘I lay to plough for turnips to-morrow.’

1896.  Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 3 Dec., 4/3. Fitzsimmons evidently laying to get in right on jaw.

  39.  † a. In OE.: To direct (one’s steps). b. Naut. To lay one’s (or a) course: see quots. 1867, 1881.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 2400 (Gr.). Lastas leʓdon … oð þæt hie on Sodoman, weall stape burʓ wlitan meahton.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 18. The Wind will be Northerly, make ready to go about; we shall lay our Course another way.

1793.  Rennell, in Phil. Trans., LXXXIII. 190. We were driven to the north of Scilly; and were barely able to lay a course through the passage between those islands and the Land’s End.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., To lay her course, to be able to sail in the direction wished for, however barely the wind permits it.

1881.  Hamersly, Naval Encycl., s.v., A ship lays her course when being close-hauled, the wind permits the desired course to be steered.

1890.  W. F. Rae, Maygrove, III. ix. 307. The steamer’s course was laid for Michipicoten.

  † c.  To apply or devote (one’s power, affection, possessions) to. Also const. into. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 26294. If … þou haf oft-sith laid might His wrangwis liuelade for to right.

1340–70.  Alisaunder, 203. He had his liking ilaide þat Ladie too wedde.

a. 1400.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 357. Ȝif eny good man of þe town leiþ his good to þe commune nede of þe town.

1627–77.  Feltham, Resolves, I. i. 1. He … lays his heart into pleasures, and forgets the future.

  † 40.  To set down in writing; to put into, express or ‘couch’ in (certain language or terms). Obs.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 1288 (Kölbing). Merlin to Blasi þer meche seyd, Þat Blasi al in writt leyd.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 184. Als Geffrey in latyn sayd So Mayster Wace in frankis layd.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2516, Phillis. Hir lettre … here & there in Ryme I haue it laide.

a. 1400[?].  Arth. & Merl. (Douce MS.), 1792 (Kölbing). In þe Bruyt he hit layde.

a. 1631.  Donne, 6 Serm. (1634), ii. 6. The phrase … is thus conceived and layed, In our image and then, After our likenesse.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 215. [The Charter] fairly engraven upon the doors thereof, and laid in Letters of Gold.

1714.  Steele, Lover, No. 27 (1723), 160. They … carry a secret Instruction, in that they lay the Sense of the Author still closer in Words of his own.

1775.  De Lolme, Eng. Const., I. x. (1784), 99. In all writs, care must be taken that they be laid and formed according to their case.

  41.  Art. a. To put upon a surface in layers; to put or arrange (colors, † a picture) on canvas.

1570.  Baret, Alv., L 54. To laie colour on a picture.

c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., ci. Truth needs no collour, with his collour fixt; Beautie no pensell, beautie’s truth to lay.

1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 343. Their swelling Epithetes thick laid As varnish on a Harlots cheek.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. x. (1695), 71. The Pictures drawn in our Minds are laid in fading Colours.

1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., To lay the Colours deep (in Painting), empater.

1781.  Cowper, Retirement, 798. To teach the canvas innocent deceit, Or lay the landscape on the snowy sheet.

1859.  Ruskin, Two Paths, App. iv. (1891), 259. In every given touch [of colour] laid on canvas. Ibid., 261. The refinement of work consists not in laying absolutely little colour, but in always laying precisely the right quantity.

  b.  To lay a ground: to spread a coating over a surface, as a basis for colors. So in Photography, to lay the grain.

1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), V. 141. Blooteling … found out the application of the chisel for laying grounds, which much exceeded the roller.

1839.  Penny Cycl., XIII. 94/2. Three processes are usually required in japanning; laying the ground, painting, and finishing.

1854.  Scoffern, in Orr’s Circ. Sci., Chem., 90. The last [stage], technically called ‘laying the grain,’ must be effected by hand. It consists in rubbing the surface of the plate in one direction, by means of a buffer.

  42.  To cover, spread or coat (with something), esp. by way of ornament (as in embroidery).

a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1076. A robe of purpre … it ful wel With orfrays leyd was everydel.

c. 1400.  Siege of Troy, 135 (MS. Harl. 525), in Archiv Stud. neu. Spr., LXXII. 15. There were sheldis gylt and leyd wyth ynde.

c. 1440.  Anc. Cookery, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 433. Take a faire urthen pot, and lay hit well with splentes in the bothum, that the flessh neigh hit not.

1562–3.  in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), III. 296. To the Painter for leyinge the Irons of the greate Postes in oyle and red leade iij^s.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, I. xix. 29. Softe wollie leaves, as it were layde with a certayne downe or fine cotton.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 832. Short cloakes layed with silver lace.

1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, 80. Lathed and laid with Lime and haire.

1820.  Scott, Monast., iii. She is convent-bred, and can lay silk broidery.

1879.  E. Arnold, Lt. Asia, 34. Black steel, Laid with gold tendrils.

1889.  Froude, Two Chiefs of Dunboy, xxvi. 399. They … dug a pit, and laid the bottom of it with thorns, and flung him in naked as he was on the top of them.

1891.  Chamb. Jrnl., 5 Dec., 770/1. My bath-room is … a part of the veranda laid with zinc.

  VII.  43. In intransitive uses, coinciding with or resembling those of LIE v.¹

  In the earliest examples the verb appears to be intransitive for reflexive or passive. Now (exc. in Nautical lang., see b) it is only dialectal or an illiterate substitute for lie, its identity of form with the past tense of the latter no doubt accounting largely for the confusion. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was not app. regarded as a solecism. (For lay in wait see WAIT sb.)

c. 1300.  Harrow. Hell, 147. Sathanas, y bynde the, her shalt thou lay, O that come domesday.

13[?].  Sir Beues, 2643 (MS. A.). Þar he schel leggen ay, Til hit come domes dai.

a. 1400.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 363. Þ^t no man ne legge in lond ne in tenement … þe whyle þe suquestre ys þare set.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 3340 (Horstm.). Þe chest … In þe whyche þis blessud virgyn leyth y-closot inne.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, li. 195. His cheff standarde ouer thrawen and layng vpon the grounde.

1498.  Will of Woodforde (Somerset Ho.). Where my wif legges.

1530.  Palsgr., 605/2. It leyeth on my herte. I tell you as it lyeth on my herte.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Nature (Arb.), 363. Nature will lay buried a great Time, and yet reuiue.

1628.  Earle, Microcosm., Pretender to Learning (Arb.), 53. Some … Folio, which … hath laid open in the same Page this half yeere.

1662.  J. Strype, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 179. At my first Coming, I laid alone.

1665.  Wood, Life, 25 Sept. (O. H. S.), II. 46. The lady of Castlemaine’s two children began to lay at our house. Ibid., 56. The books layd upon the booksellours’ hands.

1736.  Butler, Anal., II. vi. 231. The general Proof of natural Religion … does, I think, lay Level to Common Men.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, I. vi. The flame which had before laid in embryo now burst forth.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 558. Eating when we are hungry,… laying down when sleepy.

1794.  J. Bidlake, Poems, 4. She … on the ground, to catch each sound would lay.

1818.  Byron, Ch. Har., IV. clxxx. Thou … dashest him again to earth:—there let him lay.

1828.  J. Raine, St. Cuthbert, 78. They found the venerable body … laying on its right side.

1890.  Daily News, 13 Oct., 7/1. A large Danish boarhound … knocked a little boy … down, laid on him, and bit him over the eye.

1900.  F. Anstey, Brass Bottle, vi. 80. ‘They’re all layin’ down on the road opposite our door.’

  b.  Naut. To put oneself in the position indicated by the accompanying phrase or adv., e.g., to lay at anchor, to lay by the wind. (See also lay along, lay by, lay in, lay out, etc. in branch VIII.) To lay on the oars, to cease rowing.

1530.  Palsgr., 605/1. I ley at anker, as a shyppe dothe, je ancre.

1549.  Edw. VI., Jrnl. (Roxb.), II. 227. Thei laying at anker bett the French.

1670.  A. Roberts, Adventures of T. S., 8. He commanded to lay by the Wind, until the Ships came within Call.

1830.  Marryat, King’s Own, xlvi. The boats laid upon their oars.

1881.  Hamersly, Naval Encycl., s.v., To lay is used (although incorrectly) in the sense of to go or come; as lay forward, lay aft, lay down from aloft, lay out on the yards, etc.

1894.  C. N. Robinson, Brit. Fleet, 181. Captains are saluted by laying on the oars (in other words ceasing to row).

  VIII.  With adverbs in specialized uses.

  44.  Lay about. † a. trans. To surround, beset.

14[?].  Arth. & Merl. (Percy MS.), 2452 (Kölbing). A 100 Sarazens on a rowte Att once layd him all about.

1555.  J. Proctor, Wyat’s Reb., 33 b. The lorde Aburgaueny and the shiriffe … deuised to laye the countree aboute, that they [Wyat and others] mought not escape.

  † b.  intr. To contrive, plan, take measures (to do something); to look out or make a search for.

a. 1618.  Sylvester, Mayden’s Blush, 66. Hee labours, and hee layes-about … that dear Issue to exterminate.

1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., To lay about, in order to get an Office, briguer, rechercher un Emploi.

1755.  Shebbeare, Lydia (1769), II. 176. She therefore laid about for a proper person to dispatch as an emissary to accomplish this design.

  † c.  To strike out with vigor; = to lay about one (32 e). Obs.

[c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 2874 (Kölbing). About he leyd on so hard, Þat his swerd brast atvo.]

1607.  Rowlands, Hist. Guy Warwicke, 29. He drew his sword, and laid about.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. ii. 799. But when his nut-brown Sword was out Couragiously he laid about.

  45.  Lay abroad. trans. To spread out; to set out for view; to spread (a net). Obs. exc. arch.

1530.  Palsgr., 601/1. I laye abrode clothes in the sonne to be ayred or dried…. I laye abrode, as hunters or fysshers do their nettes…. I laye abrode monay, or vessell, or bookes to be vewed, je mets au large.

1535.  [see ABROAD adv. 1 c].

1570.  Baret, Alv., L 54. To laie abroade hey in the sunne to drie.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. xxiv. 395. Hauing layed abroade these bones.

1883.  R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. xvi. 50. For he abroad capacious nets had laid.

  † 46.  Lay along. a. trans. To stretch at full length (also, all along); hence, to lay low, prostrate; to destroy, overthrow, kill.

1413, 1535, 1592, 1761.  [see ALONG adv. 6].

1597.  A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 35 b/1. Shee is without all strength, cleane layed a-longe.

1599.  Withals’ Dict., 62 b. To ouerthrow, lay along, and destroie, sterno.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, I. 266. The Leaders first He laid along.

  b.  intr. (Naut.: see 43 b.) Of a ship: To lean over with a side wind. (Cf. lie along.)

1779.  Barnard, in Phil. Trans., LXX. 107. That leakage, washing from side to side, will cause the ship to lay along.

  † 47.  Lay apart. trans. To put aside or away from one; to omit purposely (to do something).

1526.  Tindale, Jas. i. 21. Wherfore laye a parte all filthynes [so 1611].

c. 1530.  L. Cox, Rhet. (1899), 52. All maters of the law layd for the tyme vtterly a part.

1563.  Homilies, II. Rogation, I. Wee shall … lay apart to speake of the profound and unsearchable nature of Almighty God, rather acknowledging our weakenesse, then rashly to attempt [etc.].

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. Introd. 3. Lay now thy … bow apart.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., II. iv. 78. That you diuest your selve and lay apart The borrowed Glories.

  48.  Lay aside. trans. a. To put away from one’s person (as a garment, weapon, or the like); to put on one side.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 615. They moste … leye a lyte hir holinesse asyde As for the tyme.

1540.  Coverdale, Fruitf. Less., To Rdr. (1593), A4b. The old Adam ought we to lay aside, to mortifie the members vppon earth, and to put on Christ the Lord, as the new wedding garment.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Condo, Seponere & condere, to lay aside and locke vp.

1595, 1611.  [see ASIDE 3].

1781.  D. Williams, trans. Voltaire’s Dram. Wks., II. 140. A father cannot lay aside the father.

1824–9.  Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1846, I. 321. On entering the apartment of the women of your country, you lay aside both slipper and turban.

1849.  Aytoun, Poems, Buried Flower, 18. Death had laid aside his terror.

1890.  Bret Harte, in Lippincott’s Mag., May, 632. The editor laid aside the last proof-sheet.

  b.  To reject or dismiss from one’s consideration or action; to abandon or postpone (a design), discontinue (an occupation).

1440.  [see ASIDE 4].

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IV. xx. 145. I praye to god that he send yow honour and worship. A said the Knyghte I may laye that on syde.

1530.  Palsgr., 605/1. I ley away, or I laye asyde my worke to loyter.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), To Gentlew. Lond. 60. When our good desires are once laide aside.

1607.  [see ASIDE 4].

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 207. After sunne set, all this while the women lay aside their worke.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 66. So the design of the rising was laid aside.

1766.  Brooke, Fool of Quality (1792), I. 152. Laying Peter aside, who think you was the greatest hero among the moderns?

1824.  Mackintosh, Sp. Ho. Com., 1 June, Wks. 1846, III. 417. I think myself entitled to lay aside … the testimony of the coachman.

1877.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xxv. 237. The burghers laid aside their revelries.

  c.  To put out of the way, get rid of. Obs.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., V. 275. Quhen he had pacifiet his cuntrey, layd asyde his alde ennimies [etc.].

1708.  Swift, Sent. Ch. Eng. Man, Wks. 1755, II. I. 77. When a prince was laid aside for male-administration.

1726–31.  Tindal, Rapin’s Hist. Eng. (1743), II. XVII. 110. To lay aside this troublesome Regent.

  d.  To set apart for a purpose.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 58, ¶ 1. I intend to lay aside a whole Week for this Undertaking.

  e.  pass. To be incapacitated for work by illness.

1879.  J. C. Shairp, Burns, vii. 175. At this crisis his faithful wife was laid aside, unable to attend him.

1901.  Punch, 3 April, 262/1. More than once laid aside by break down of health.

  49.  Lay away. trans. a. = lay aside, a, b.

a. 1400.  Ipomedon (Kölbing), 338/7. He laid a way his horne & his hunter clothes & armed him all in white.

1526.  Tindale, Heb. xii. 1. Lett vs … laye a waye all that preseth vs doune, and the sinne that hangeth on vs.

1563–87.  Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 70/2. They were … readie to laie awaie their armour and weapons.

1581.  Savile, Tacitus, Hist., IV. (1612), 140. That passion, amongst all other, euen of wise men is last layed away.

1628.  Hobbes, Thucyd. (1822), 4. [They] laid away … the fashion of wearing linen coats.

1641.  Charles I., in Rushw. Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 457. That laying away all disputes, you go on chearfully and speedily for the Reducing of Ireland.

1845.  Longf., Belfry of Bruges, Curfew, ii. 4. The book is completed, And closed, like the day; And the hand that has written it Lays it away.

  b.  To bury. ? U.S.

1885.  M. E. Wilkins, in Harper’s Mag., March, 594/1. It was hardly six months since my poor sister was laid away.

  50.  Lay by. a. trans. = lay aside, 48 a, b; † also = lay aside, 48 c.

1439.  in Rymer Fœdera (1710), X. 727/2. That Matiere … was so lightly laide by at Arras and noon Inclination shewed therto.

c. 1585.  R. Browne, Answ. Cartwright, 6. He must … laye by his proofe as vntrue.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 64. I am forc’d to lay my reuerence by.

1644.  Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 38. Leaving it to each ones conscience to read or to lay by.

1674.  Ray, Collect. Words, Prepar. Tin, 123. The cinder or slag … they take off with a shovel and lay it by.

1681.  Dryden, Abs. & Achit., 507. These were for laying honest David by On principles of pure good husbandry.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 47, ¶ 7. I shall therefore lay by my Drama for some Time.

1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, I. 118. It was Pity that so able a Man … should be laid by, as useless and forgotten.

1781.  Cowper, Conversat., 670. It views the truth with a distorted eye, And either warps or lays it useless by.

1798.  Landor, Gebir, I. 51. His buckler and his corslet he laid by.

1867.  J. B. Rose, trans. Virgil’s Æneid, 233.

  b.  To put away in store; to store up; to save (money). Also absol.

1786.  Burns, To Auld Mare, xvii. A heapit stimpart, I’ll reserve ane Laid by for you.

1825.  New Monthly Mag., XVI. 312. Of her twelve hundred a-year, she regularly lays by two-thirds.

1853.  Lytton, My Novel, IV. v. It is a great sum,… but I will lay by, as you are kind enough to trust me.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 501. Persons who had laid by money would rather put it into the Bank.

1873.  H. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., xv. 367. Few of them lay by in anticipation of times when work is slack.

  c.  To put away for future disposal or for safety.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. xiv. (1840), 239. I perceived … two miserable wretches dragged from the boats, where, it seems they were laid by, and were now brought out for the slaughter.

1821.  Keats, Isabella, lii. She wrapped it up; and for its tomb did choose A garden-pot, wherein she laid it by.

1893.  Field, 25 Feb., 297/3. She has not been put afloat yet, but is laid by till open weather sets in.

  d.  pass. To be ‘laid aside’ by illness (cf. 48 e).

1782.  Macqueen in Med. Commun., I. 69. They are … seized with a Catarrh…, which rages so fast that in twenty-four hours, every individual … is … laid by.

1825–80.  Jamieson, To Lay By. 1. To overdo, to make unfit for work;… 2. To be confined by ailment; as, ‘He’s laid by.’

1889.  Mrs. Comyns Carr, Marg. Maliphant, I. xii. 237. You know that father is often laid by, and unable to go round the farm.

  e.  intr. (Naut.) = lay to (58 c).

1697.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3287/3. They all laid by a considerable time, and then making Sail stood to the Westward.

1741.  S. Speed, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 395. Their not hoisting their colours … and … not laying by for us.

  51.  Lay down. trans.

  a.  To put (something that one is holding or carrying) down upon the ground or any other surface; to put off, discard (a garment, armor). To lay down (one’s) arms: to surrender.

c. 1205.  Lay., 5070. Leie a-dun þin hære scrud & þinne rede sceld, and þi sper longe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3296. Mi hernes dun heir did i lai.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 224. I did as myn moder saide, In þe corn myn howk doun lade, and bad it do þat do sulde I.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 165. Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 423. That with al spede they laye downe theyr weapons, and devise some meanes of concorde.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 451, note. They laid down their arms, and put on mourning.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxvii. She laid down the cup of tea.

1890.  T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng., 142. Eighteen thousand French soldiers laid down their arms to the raw army that had defeated them at Baylen.

  b.  To resign, relinquish (office, power, dignity, hopes, etc.; † also absol. = to retire from office, etc.); † to discard, cease to bear (a name), discontinue, ‘drop’ (a custom, fashion); † to give up the wearing or use of.

c. 1205.  Lay., 2037. Þa leodene … leiden adun þene noma, & Trinouant heo nemneden.

13[?].  Sir Tristr., 1187. Tristrem he gan doun lain, And seyd tramtris he hiȝt.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 62. Ladyes … that … hadde highe hornes, the whiche the holy man beganne to reprove, and yeue diuerse ensaumples to make hem to be layde doun.

15[?].  in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 327. In hairt be blytht and lay all dolour doun.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. xii. (1877), I. 236. Horne in windows is quite laid downe in euerie place.

1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xiii. (1623), 752. Those consultations of the Laitie were laide downe.

1682.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 176. There is a discourse … that the lord chanceller will lay down, and be succeeded by the lord cheif justice Pemberton.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XI. 473. What Hopes you had in Diomede, lay down.

1714.  Addison, Spect., No. 556, ¶ 1. Upon laying down the Office of Spectator.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 461. They [the clergy] seemed now to lay down all fears and apprehensions of Popery.

1720.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xiii. (1840), 226. It was a good retreat for those that were willing to leave off, and lay down.

1778.  Johnson, Lett. to Boswell, 3 July. He has laid down his coach, and talks of making more contractions of his expense.

1826.  Scott, Woodst., vii. Will he lay down his power?

  c.  To place in a recumbent or prostrate position. Often refl. († in early use conjugated with to be). † Also, to bring to bed of a child (cf. 2 above).

[a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 288. Hwon þe heorte … leið hire salf aduneward, & buhð him ase he bit.]

c. 1250.  Old Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc. (1872), 32. Ure lord was i-leid him don to slepe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 15675. Ful buxumli he laid him don apon þat erth bare.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 88. She is now leide down in hir bedde of a childe male.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, xxxvii. (Arb.), 104. Tho wente he and leyd hym doun vnder a tre in the grasse.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. iv. 8. Therfore wil I laye me downe in peace, & take my rest.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. iii. 40. The slye whorsons Haue got a speeding tricke to lay downe Ladies.

1781–3.  Cowper, Alex. Selkirk, 50. The sea-fowl is gone to her nest, The beast is laid down in his lair. Ibid. (1791), Odyss., X. 64. Around my head Winding my mantle, [I] lay’d me down below.

1816.  Wolfe, Burial Sir J. Moore, 29. Slowly and sadly we laid him down.

  d.  To put down (money) as a wager or a payment; † to pay (a debt).

14[?].  Lydg., London Lyckpeny. Lay down your sylver, and here you may speede.

1464–5.  Manners & Househ. Exp. Eng. (Roxb., 1841), 487. Paid to Robart Klerke that he leid doune, xijd.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 246 b. Besydes those … Dukates, whyche he hathe alreadye defrayde [he] shall laye downe as muche more at Venise.

1583.  Hollyband, Campo di Fior, 137. What shall we laye downe? What shall we stake?

1623[?].  Donne, Lett. (1651), 230. He writ to me that 8^l would discharge him, and that M^r Selden would lay down half.

a. 1640.  Massinger, Very Woman, II. i. I have done nothing … that may justly claim A title to your friendship; and much less Laid down the debt which … not I but mankind Stands bound to tender.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, Life of Æsop (1708), 15. Lay down the Money upon the Nail, and the Business is done.

  e.  To sacrifice (one’s life).

1611.  Bible, John x. 15. I lay downe my life for the sheepe. Ibid., xv. 13. Greater loue hath no man then this, that a man lay downe his life for his friends.

1781.  Cowper, Expostul., 536. To waste thy life in arms or lay it down In causeless feuds.

1862.  Temple Bar, VI. 190. Ready … to lay down fortune, freedom, and perhaps life itself, for their sake.

  f.  † To put down, overthrow (obs.). Also Naut. of wind or sea: To make (a vessel) lie on her side.

c. 1205.  Lay., 551. A londe & a watere he heom adun leaide.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 773. Ȝef me is ileuet þurh mi leoue lauerd for to leggen ham adun.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4415. He [Antichrist] sal drawe til hym bathe lered and lewed, And crysten law sal be doun layde.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 10. Lest here ypocrisie be parceyued and here wynnynge and worldly fame leid a-doun.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 237. Foure þowsand of Spartanes fil uppon hem and leyde adoun and slouȝ of hem þre dayes to gidres.

1745.  P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 24. A raging Sea took us … with that Violence that it … laid down the Ship in a Manner quite on her Side.

  g.  To construct (roads, railways, ships). Also to lay down a keel.

1851.  Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 1127. Levelling instrument … intended … for laying down railroads and highways.

1884.  Leeds Mercury, 15 Nov., 6/6. It is not, I believe, intended to lay down any new ironclads at present.

1890.  T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng., 240. Brunel laid down the Great Western.

1897.  Daily News, 23 Jan., 3/5. Her keel will be laid down in the course of the next week or two.

  h.  To establish, formulate definitely (a principle, rule); to prescribe (a course of action, limits, etc.).

  To lay down the law: to declare what the law (with regard to something) is; hence colloq. to make dogmatic statements, esp. in argument.

1493.  Festiall (W. de W., 1496), 1 b. Holy chirche leyth downe songes of melody as Te deum lau. Gloria in excelsis.

1586.  A. Day, Eng. Secretary, ii. (1625), 63. I have determined … under this Narratory … title to lay downe my limits.

1628.  Earle, Microcosm., Medling Man (Arb.), 89. Hee layes you downe a hundred wild plots, all impossible things.

1676.  Glanvill, Ess., iii. 13. Laying down Rules for solving some Cubick and Biquadratick Equations.

1712.  Berkeley, Pass. Obed., § 16. If the criterion we have laid down be true.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 273. He assured him he would pay the debt: But did not lay down any method of doing it.

1762.  Foote, Orators, I. i. I tell thee what, Ephraim, if thee can’st but once learn to lay down the law, there’s no knowing what thee may’st rise.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. 238. We may now be allowed to lay down the law of redress against public oppression.

1845.  McCulloch, Taxation, I. iv. (1852), 127. It may be safely laid down that at all times a considerable number of occupiers of land are losing by their business.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. xv. 308. He laid down the conditions of the problem with perfect clearness.

1865.  Trollope, Belton Est., xviii. 205. She endeavoured to … lay down for herself a line of conduct.

1885.  Mrs. C. Praed, Affinities, I. ix. 206. He was in the midst of an argument with the Master, and was laying down the law in this fashion: [etc.].

  i.  To set down or mark out (a plan) on paper; to delineate; † to describe (a geometrical figure).

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 31. How to lay down a Triangle in a Circle. Ibid., V. 6. After you have taken the Angles … You must Protract or lay down the Figure.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. xvi. 448. Many shoals … that are not laid down in our Drafts.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 99. I was … laying down the measures of the rock upon paper.

1817.  Scott, Search after Happiness, iii. If Rennell has it not, you’ll find, mayhap, The isle laid down in Captain Sindbad’s map.

1853.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIV. I. 101. A map on which the drains of each field are laid down.

1890.  T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng., 292. He now laid down clearly the island groups of the North Pacific.

  † j.  To put down in writing; to treat of. Obs.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 67. I will laye downe vnto you some such corruptions and abuses, as seeme to be inormous.

1634.  W. Wood, New Eng. Prosp., To Rdr. I have laid downe the nature of the Countrey, without any partiall respect unto it.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 131. I have laid down some of my thoughts about this word, They that go down.

1756.  Johnson, Observ. St. Affairs, Wks. 1787, X. 145. It is then a proper time … to lay down with distinct particularity what rumour always huddles in general exclamations, or perplexes by undigested narratives.

  † k.  To lay down by: to consider together with.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, I. iii. § 15. Lay down by those pleasures and benefits the fearful and dangerous thunders and lightnings,… with other inconveniences, and then there will be found no comparison between the one and the other.

  l.  To ‘run and fell’ (a seam); to trim, embroider. Obs. or arch.

1611.  Cotgr., Rentraire, to lay in, or lay downe, a seame.

c. 1650.  Johnnie Armstrong, vi. in Child, Ballads (1889), III. 369. Ye shall every one have a velvet coat, Laid down with golden laces three.

1820.  Scott, Monast., xiv. A scarlet cloak, laid down with silver lace three inches broad.

  m.  Agric. To convert (arable land) into pasture; to put under grass, etc. Const. in, to, under, with.

1608.  in N. Riding Rec. (1884), I. 122. For converting and laying down of 60 acres of arrable land in pasture.

1743.  R. Maxwell, Sel. Trans., 52. It is a prodigious Error to overcrop Ground, before laying it down with Grass-seeds.

1789.  Trans. Soc. Arts, I. 88. Seeds for laying down arable land to grass.

1844.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., V. I. 64. The land is laid down with red or white clover. Ibid. (1845), II. 446. This ground was laid down with oats and grass. Ibid., VI. II. 528. 14 acres laid down under gorse.

1879.  T. H. S. Escott, England, I. 59. Much of this land has been newly laid down to grass.

  n.  To store (wine) by putting it away in cellars.

1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxxvii. ‘That was laid down, when Mr. Linkinwater first come, that wine was.’

1878.  Besant & Rice, Celia’s Arb., xv. (1887), 108. A generous flow of port, of which every respectable Briton then kept a cellar, carefully labelled and laid down years before.

  † o.  To cause to subside; to pacify, appease. Obs.

1563.  W. Fulke, Meteors (1640), 19 b. For who can affirme from whence it [wind] was raysed, or where it is laid downe?

1628.  Earle, Microcosm., High-Spirited Man (Arb.), 92. A man quickly fired, and quickly laid downe with satisfaction.

  p.  Printing. ‘To put pages on the stone for imposition’ (Jacobi, Printer’s Vocab., 1888). Also (see second quot.).

1825.  Hansard, Typographia, 411. Having disposed, or ‘laid down,’ the pages in this right order, the next task is dressing the ‘chases.’ Ibid., 769. To lay down a gathering, is to place the several heaps, with their signatures following each other, upon benches or forms of a proper height.

  q.  To deposit and fix (a coating).

1839.  Penny Cycl., XIII. 95/1. The composition, which is elastic and very flexible, may be immediately laid down upon the japanned surface.

  r.  Sporting slang. To lay himself (or simply lay) down to his work: of a horse, etc., to put all his strength into a race.

1885.  Howells, Silas Lapham (1891), I. 63. The mare … understood the signal, and, as an admirer said, ‘she laid down to her work.’

1893.  Illustr. Sport. & Dram. News, 20 May, 375/1. He never seemed to fairly lay himself down to his work, and … Thomas won as he liked.

  52.  Lay forth. † a. To stretch out in a prostrate position; to bring out and display openly.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 1840 (Horstm.). For alle thyng as forthe redy þerto y-leyde.

c. 1430.  Hymns Virg., 76. Now mote y leie forþ my necke, For deep his swerd out haþ lauȝte.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Macc. iii. 48. They … layde forth the bokes of the lawe.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. Introd. 2. Lay forth out of thine everlasting scryne The antique rolles, where they lye hidden still.

1630.  in Descr. Thames (1758), 65. No Fisherman … shall at any Time hereafter ship their Draw-Nets … into their Boats, before such time as they have laid forth all their whole Net.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 259. Grots and Caves … ’ore which the mantling Vine Layes forth her purple Grape.

  † b.  To put or bring forward in argument or the like; to expound; to make patent; to expose. Also refl. to expatiate upon.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 115. Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden.

1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 1. I will … laie foorth vnto you … those things which a godly man ought to think.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 191. Those wonderful mercies of God w^rh haue been now laid forth unto you.

1665.  J. Spencer, Vulg. Proph., Pref. The present Undertaking to lay forth the impostures wrapt up in this … instance of Enthusiasm.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, xiii. (1708), 16. [The Fox] lays himself forth upon the Gracefulness of the Raven’s Person [etc.].

  † e.  To spend, expend, lay out. Obs.

1584.  Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 16. Item laid forthe by the said church wardens, the xxvij day of June for fower lams, vjs. ijd.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 318. She shall not … lay up treasure for the inriching of herselfe but shall distribute it rather and lay it forth for the benefit of Gods Saints.

1649.  Liberties & Customes of Myners, C. He shall pay 4s. for the twelve mens dinners, and the Barmaster to lay forth the mony.

  d.  ? To spread out with a view to ornament; to deck, array. Now dial. Cf. lay out (56 j).

1656.  Artif. Handsom., 115. How do they exclaime … against braiding or laying forth, and powdering, or colouring their haire?

1868.  Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., Laid out, Laid forth, Decked out, arrayed, ‘got up.’

  53.  Lay in. a. trans. See simple senses and IN. † To lay in an oar, mentioned as an accompaniment of setting sail; also absol. (in quot. 13[?]). To lay in the oars: to unship them.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 718. Sone dede he leyn in an ore, And drou him to þe heye se.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 106. Þay layden in on laddeborde & þe lofe wynnes.

1485.  Caxton, Chas. Gt., 37. At the moment when the thorne was drawen fro the crowne he took hys syght, and whan it was layed in ageyn he recouuerd his heeryng.

a. 1592.  Greene, Geo. a Greene (1599), E 4. [Shoemaker speaks in the road] Stay till I lay in my Tooles.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), C cc b. Leve-rame! Unship the oars! the order to the rowers to lay in their oars.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Lay in the oars, unship them from the rowlocks, and place them fore and aft in the boat.

  b.  To place in store; to provide oneself with a stock of. Also said of ‘taking in’ food; hence absol. to feed vigorously (now vulgar). † Also occas. to put stores into, stock (a place).

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 297/2. If a man bee giuen to quaffing and laying in, he careth not … howe other be prouided for.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Plantations (Arb.), 532. And to be Laid in, and Stored vp, and then Deliuered out in Proportion.

1662.  Gurnall, Chr. in Arm. (1669), 308/2. We see in a Town besieged, though it be well laid in with Corn … what straits they are soon put to.

1677.  Lady Chaworth, in Hist. MSS. Comm. 12th Rep., App. V. 37. I have laid you in some beare.

1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 246. They observe this Maxim, Always to lay in Ballast, they eating heartily.

1709.  Addison, Tatler, No. 131, ¶ 3. A great Magazine of Wines that he had laid in before the War.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. III. 589. The rustic Jacobites were laying in arms.

1865.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVI. xi. (1872), VI. 277. So soon as we have horses, it will not appear strange that we lay in a little hay.

1889.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, vii. Then … the eggs and bacon—my word! how Jim did lay in.

  † c.  To put in (a claim). Also absol.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 123. The County of Tripolis layd in for himselfe, that he was discended from Raymund of Tholous.

1710.  Addison, Whig Exam., No. 5, ¶ 2. After this short preface by which … I lay in my claim to be a Politician, I shall enter on my discourse.

1734.  N. Hampsh. Prov. Papers (1870), IV. 842. There is a new Church erected at the South end of Boston and they are laying in for Mr. Brown.

1747.  Mem. Nutreb. Crt., I. x. 169. She applied to the then acting ministers, laying in her claim to her principality.

  † d.  intr. To scheme or exert oneself to do something. To lay in for: to make one’s object, lay oneself out for, exert oneself to gain. Obs.

1599.  Sir E. Sandys, Europæ Speculum (1629), 178. There is scant any office or estate can fall void, but they lay in by all meanes to get into it.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 502. If thou lay in for faith, come with an heart empty of other thoughts.

1681.  Dryden, Abs. & Achit., To Rdr. If I happen to please the more moderate sort, I shall be sure of … the best judges … And I confess I have laid in for those, by rebating the satire … from carrying too sharp an edge.

  e.  trans. (Agric.). To enclose or reserve (a meadow) for hay. Cf. 60 b (b).

1600.  Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1816), IV. 228/1. Þatt all persones quha hes teillit … ony pairt … of his maiesteis … or vtheris commounteis … That they within ȝeir & day … lay in the samyn commounteis agane.

1727.  Cowell’s Law Dict., s.v., Falcatura, Meadows hay’d, or laid in for Hay.

1851.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XII. II. 387. The proportion of hay is not great, the meadows are ‘laid in’ in April and May.

  f.  Gardening. (a) To place in position (the new wood of a trained tree) (b) (See quot. 1898.)

1802.  W. Forsyth, Treat. Fruit-trees, 31. It is too common a practice to lay-in the shoots at full length.

1890.  Blackmore, Kit & Kitty, III. xiv. 185. I can lay a tree in straight enough, but I am out of my line telling things.

1898.  Wright & Dewar, Johnson’s Gardener’s Dict., 548/2. Laying-in is a gardener’s term for training the branches of espaliers and wall-trees. Laying-in-by-the-heels is his mode of describing a plant’s having the roots roughly buried in the soil for some temporary purpose.

  g.  Printing. (See quot.)

1683.  Moxon, Printing, 383. When the Press-man lays Sheets on the Tympan, it is stiled Laying in Sheets.

  † h.  ? To put (hounds) into cover. Obs.

1735.  Somerville, Chase, II. 150. Here, Huntsman, bring … all thy jolly Hounds, And calmly lay them in.

  i.  To paint (a picture or some of its parts) in the first unfinished stage.

1676.  Beale, Pocket bk., in H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), III. 135. Moneys paid my son Barth. for work, laying in the draperys of his mother’s pictures.

1784.  J. Barry, in Lect. Paint., vi. (1848), 215. Painting upon a darkish ground … will … tend to … destroy the purity … of all your lighter tints, particularly if you do not employ a great body of colour in the laying them in.

1859.  Sala, Gas-light & D., ii. 24. The whitewasher … is summoned to ‘lay in’ the great masses of colour.

1886.  Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Oct., 4/2. An artist ‘laid in’ a picture for an amateur, who muddled on with it for awhile and got it accepted at the Academy, but the artist who had laid the picture in was himself rejected.

  † j.  To lay (a cloth); = sense 35 b. Obs.

1788.  G. Colman, Jr. Ways & Means, I. i. The cloth is laid in for breakfast.

  † k.  To ‘run and fell’ (a seam). Obs.

1617.  [see 51 l].

  l.  To deliver, ‘get in’ (a blow); to shed, ‘turn on’ (tears).

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, II. ii. ¶ 5. Jacintha was by his bedside, laying in her tears by wholesale. Ibid., VII. i. ¶ 9. I had no sooner laid in this home stroke [etc.].

1865.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XV. xiii. (1872), VI. 107. A sharp brush of fighting; not great in quantity, but laid-in at the right moment.

  m.  To discontinue working (a colliery).

1846.  M. A. Richardson, Local Historian’s Table Bk., V. 78. Several collieries having been laid in this day, and an inflammatory placard having been circulated in Newcastle, great sensation was produced, and much alarm excited.

1896.  Daily News, 28 Sept., 7/5. The miners at Haswell Colliery, county Durham, finished bringing their gear to bank on Saturday, and the pits are now laid in.

  n.  intr. (Naut.) To come in from the yards after reefing or furling. (Cf. lie in.)

c. 1860.  H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 46. The outside men will lay out and unclamp the booms,… then lay in again.

  54.  Lay off. † a. trans. To take off, take away; to put off or remove from oneself.

c. 1592.  Marlowe, Massacre Paris (? 1600), B 4. Thou traitor Guise, lay of thy bloudy hands!

1628.  trans. Tasso’s Aminta, I. i. B 4. Stay for me till I haue in yon fresh fount Layd off the sweat and dust that yesterday I soyld me with.

a. 1631.  Donne, Serm., lxxxviii. IV. 121. S^t. Gregory says that the Soul had laid off … all outward ornaments.

1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., To lay off a Garment, quitter un habit.

  † b.  Naut. To steer (a ship) away from the shore. Also intr., to remain stationary outside a harbor.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., I. i. 52. Lay her a hold, a hold, set her two courses off to Sea againe, lay her off.

1781.  T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 291. Eight of them had got over the bar, and many others were laying off.

  c.  To mark or separate off (plots of ground, etc.); to plot out land in some way or for some purpose.

1748.  Washington, Jrnl., 30 March. This Morning began our Intended business of Laying of[f] Lots.

1765.  A. Dickson, Treat. Agric., III. vi. (ed. 2), 400. Laying off land, after a very few crops of corn, into grass for pasture.

1795.  J. Phillips, Hist. Inland Navig., 357. The partial hand of nature has laid off America upon a much larger scale than any other part of the world.

1801.  A. Ranken, Hist. France, I. 442. They … directed that the streets should be laid off obliquely.

1847.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VIII. II. 370. Care must be taken … to lay off the land in broad flats.

1890.  Grace King, in Harper’s Mag., Nov., 870/2. Laying parterres off in fanciful designs with little shells.

  d.  To ‘set off’ (distances) upon a surface.

1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 393/2. Lay off the dimensions of the waste rail found in the table; and … draw a line [etc.].

1859.  Ruskin, Perspective, xvii. 79. The dividing points … will lay off distances on the retiring inclined line.

1882.  Minchin, Unipl. Kinemat., 2. By laying off the different times along Ox.

  e.  Shipbuilding. To transfer (plans) from the paper in the full size on the floor of the mould-loft.

1863.  P. Barry, Dockyard Econ., 139. The chief draftsman and his assistants ‘lay off,’ or draw all the lines on the mould-loft floor, to the full size.

1893.  Field, 25 Feb., 297/2. I … advise that the boat be ‘laid off’ at full size and batten-faired.

  f.  dial. and U.S. To discontinue; to discontinue the working of; to dismiss (a workman), usually temporarily. Also intr., to take a rest.

1841.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., II. II. 181. It is removed at intervals, chiefly in frost, when ploughing is laid off.

1868.  Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., Laid off applied to a person who from illness or other disablement is incapable of working as usual.

1888.  Daily News, 17 Sept., 2/7. One of the leading works in the district at Darlington has been laid off by a strike.

1892.  Nation (N.Y.), 25 Aug., 135/1. To give notice of intention to ‘lay off’ any hands in their employ.

1897.  W. D. Howells, Landlord at Lion’s Head, 65. When the husbands come up Saturday nights, they don’t want to go on a tramp Sundays. They want to lay off and rest.

  55.  Lay on. a. trans. To impose (an injunction, penalty, tax); † to bestow (a name) upon. (In early use with dative pronoun as in 19 b.)

11[?].  O. E. Chron., an. 1052 (Laud MS.). Þe folc ʓeald heom swa mycel swa hi heom on leʓden.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 31. Bluðeliche he wule herkein þet þe preost him leið on.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3994. Sal ic non wurd muȝen forð-don, Vten ðat god me leið on.

c. 1450.  Lonelich, Merlin, 988 (Kölbing). What name they scholden leyn hym vppon.

1813.  Gentl. Mag., May, 429/2. I think laying on a tax would greatly enrich the public purse.

1833.  Act 3 & 4 Will. IV., c. 46 § 64. The meeting is for the purpose of laying on an assessment.

1881.  Gardiner & Mullinger, Study Eng. Hist., I. x. 184–5. Charles I. had used the special powers entrusted to him … to lay on ship-money.

  b.  intr. To deal blows with vigor; to make vigorous attack, assail. (Formerly often with dative pronoun denoting the object of attack.)

c. 1205.  Lay., 13708. Mid sweorde leggeð heom on.

a. 1225.  Juliana, 17. Leggeð on se luðerliche on hire leofliche lich.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 8445 (Kölbing). He laid on wiþ schourge and bad hir go.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 1533. Lokeaþ þat ȝe legge hem an & sleþ hem a-doun wyþ myȝt.

a. 1420.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1102. He dremeth theeues comen in And on his cofres knokke, & leye on faste.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxliv. (1482), 299. Our men of armes … leyde on with stakes.

1530.  Palsgr., 601/2. Laye on, lay on upon the jade.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., I. viii. (1622), 14. They … laide them on with stripes.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., V. viii. 33. Lay on Macduffe, And damn’d be him, that first cries hold, enough.

1693.  Dryden, Juvenal, III. (1697), 68. Answer, or answer not, ’tis all the same: He lays me on, and makes me bear the blame.

1698.  Vanbrugh, Prov. Wife, IV. iii. He came at us … and laid us on with a great quarter-staff.

1836.  Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xii. The pleasure of thrashing his enemy … was quite enough—and he laid well on.

1843.  Macaulay, Lays Anc. Rome, Lake Regillus, xxvii. I will lay on for Tusculum, And lay thou on for Rome!

1882.  Freeman, in Stephens, Life & Lett. (1895), II. 267. I fancy people will lay on more zealously for either of the extremes.

  c.  trans. To inflict (blows); to ply (the lash) vigorously. Also to lay it on (in quot. fig.).

a. 1400.  Octovian, 1061. Ley on strokes with good empryse.

14[?].  Libeaus Desconus, 2056 (Kaluza). Ley on strokes swifte.

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., King & No King, IV. ii. (1619), 53. You haue paid me equall, Heavens, And sent my owne rod to correct me with … Lay it on, Iustice, till my soule melt in me.

1656.  Baxter, Reformed Pastor, III. i. We disgrace them to the utmost, and lay it on as plainly as we can speak.

1732.  Fielding, Mock Doctor, viii. Those blows … which I was oblig’d to have the honour of laying on so thick upon you.

1892.  Field, 26 Nov., 799/3. A stirrup leather well laid on.

  † d.  intr. To set oneself vigorously (to do something).

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 38. The hungrie dogs,… Layde on as fast her fleshye flankes to teare.

  e.  To lay (it) on: † (a) to be lavish in expense (obs.); (b) to pile on the charge for goods, etc.

1590.  Marlowe, Edw. II. (1598), E 4. Thou shalt haue crownes of vs t’out bid the Barons; And, Spenser, spare them not, lay it on.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. ii. 224. There’s no iesting, laying on, tak’t off, who [w]ill as they say, there be hacks. Ibid. (1610), Temp., III. ii. 160. I would I could see this Taborer, He layes it on.

1611.  Cotgr., Cocher sur la grosse taille, (as wee say) to lay it on, (take it off who as will;) to spend, or borrow, exceeding much.

1612.  Sir C. Mountagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 239. Here is … much preparations at this wedding for masks … one of eight lords and eight ladies, whereof my cousin An Dudley on[e], and two from the Inner Courts, who the[y] say will lay it on.

1727.  Boyer, Fr. Dict., s.v., I had a good Fortune, and laid on to some Tune, as long as it lasted.

  f.  To apply a coat of (paint, varnish, etc.) to a surface. Hence in phr. to lay (it) on thick, with a trowel, to be excessive in flattery, eulogy, etc.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., I. ii. 112. Well said, that was laid on with a trowell. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., I. v. 258. Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white, Natures owne sweet, and cunning hand laid on. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T. V. iii. 49. My Lord, your Sorrow was too sore lay’d-on, Whiche sixteene Winters cannot blow away, So many Summers dry.

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 379. Pulverized Gold lay’d on with gumme.

1839.  Penny Cycl., XIII. 95/1. The colours are tempered with oil and varnish, and the metallic powders laid on with gold size.

1842–59.  Gwilt, Archit., § 2233. All the first coats of plastering are laid on with this tool.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 51. Dyers first prepare the white ground and then lay on the dye of purple.

1893.  Law Times, XCIV. 452/1. It is nauseous to hear the adulation of Mr. Neville, who laid butter on with a spade.

  g.  Agric. Of cattle: To ‘put on,’ increase in (flesh); also absol.