v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Allayed p. pr. & vb. n. Allaying. ] [ OE. alaien, aleggen, to lay down, put down, humble, put an end to, AS. ālecgan; ā- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + lecgan to lay; but confused with old forms of allege, alloy, alegge. See Lay. ] 1. To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm; as, to allay popular excitement; to allay the tumult of the passions. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; as, to allay the severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity. [ 1913 Webster ]

It would allay the burning quality of that fell poison. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate; subdue; destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet. See Alleviate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To diminish in strength; to abate; to subside. “When the rage allays.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Alleviation; abatement; check. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Alloy. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate. [ Archaic ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, allays. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An allaying; that which allays; mitigation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The like allayment could I give my grief. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]