Ō/ver-lāy′, v. t.

[imp. & p. p. OVERLAID; p. pr. & vb. n. OVERLAYING.] To lay over; to spread over; to cover completely; as, specifically, (a.) To occupy fully. “When any country is overlaid by the multitude which live in it.” Raleigh. (b.) To conceal with a superficial covering; as, to overlay capitals of columns with silver; cedar overlaid with gold.

We do not wish to overlay the subject. De Quincey.

(c.) To smother with a close covering, or by lying upon;—used corruptly for overlie. “A heap of ashes that o’er lays your fire.” Dryden.

This woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. I Kings iii. 19.

(d.) To cloud; to overcast. “As when a cloud his beam doth overlay.” Spenser. (e.) To stretch above and across, so as to unite the two sides of.

And overlay With this portentous bridge the dark abyss. Milton.