Allay

v. t. [imp. & p. p. ALLAYED; p. pr. & vb. n. ALLAYING.] [Partly from A-S. alecgan, to lay down, confine, diminish, depress, from prefix ā and lecgan, to lay, put down, Ger. legen: partly from Fr. allier, to ally, to mix, as metals, Lat. alligare, to bind to something. Allay and alloy, which is of a different origin, have been confounded, when applied to metals. See ALLOY.]

1Sense 1. To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; as, to allay popular excitement; to allay the tumult of the passions.

2Sense 2. To abate, mitigate, repress, or subdue; as, to allay the severity of affliction; to allay the bitterness of adversity.

I would allay the burning quality of that fell poison. Shak.

3Sense 3. To reduce the purity of; to debase; to alloy; as, to allay metals. [Obs.]

Synonyms—To alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate; subdue; destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet. See ALLEVIATE.

To diminish in strength; to abate; to subside. “When the rage allays.” Shak.