Part 6417

<i>Dryden.</i>

<h1>Lay</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lay</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF.<ets>lei</ets> faith, law, F. <ets>loi</ets> law. See <er>Legal</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Faith; creed; religious profession.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Of the sect to which that he was born He kept his <b>lay</b>, to which that he was sworn. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A law.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "Many goodly <i>lays</i>."

<i>Spenser.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>An obligation; a vow.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>They bound themselves by a sacred <b>lay</b> and oath. <i> Holland.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Lay</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lay</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>lai</ets>, <ets>lais</ets>, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. <ets>laoi</ets>, <ets>laoidh</ets>, song, poem, OIr.<ets>laoidh</ets> poem, verse; but cf. also AS. <ets>l\'bec</ets> play, sport, G. <ets>leich</ets> a sort of poem (cf. <er>Lake</er> to sport). <?/.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A song; a simple lyrical poem; a ballad.</def>

<i>Spenser. Sir W. Scott.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A melody; any musical utterance.</def>

<blockquote>The throstle cock made eke his <b>lay</b>. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Lay</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lay</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Laid</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Laying</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>leggen</ets>, AS. <ets>lecgan</ets>, causative, fr. <ets>licgan</ets> to lie; akin to D.<ets>leggen</ets>, G. <ets>legen</ets>, Icel. <ets>leggja</ets>, Goth. <ets>lagjan</ets>. See <er>Lie</er> to be prostrate.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To cause to lie down, to be prostrate, or to lie against something; to put or set down; to deposit; <as>as, to <ex>lay</ex> a book on the table; to <ex>lay</ex> a body in the grave; a shower <ex>lays</ex> the dust.</as></def>

<blockquote>A stone was brought, and <b>laid</b> upon the mouth of the den. <i>Dan. vi. 17.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Soft on the flowery herb I found me <b>laid</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To place in position; to establish firmly; to arrange with regularity; to dispose in ranks or tiers; <as>as, to <ex>lay</ex> a corner stone; to <ex>lay</ex> bricks in a wall; to <ex>lay</ex> the covers on a table.</as></def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To prepare; to make ready; to contrive; to provide; <as>as, to <ex>lay</ex> a snare, an ambush, or a plan</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To spread on a surface; <as>as, to <ex>lay</ex> plaster or paint</as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To cause to be still; to calm; to allay; to suppress; to exorcise, as an evil spirit.</def>

<blockquote>After a tempest when the winds are <b>laid</b>. <i>Waller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To cause to lie dead or dying.</def>

<blockquote>Brave C\'91neus <b>laid</b> Ortygius on the plain, The victor C\'91neus was by Turnus slain. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>To deposit, as a wager; to stake; to risk.</def>

<blockquote>I dare <b>lay</b> mine honor He will remain so. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>To bring forth and deposit; <as>as, to <ex>lay</ex> eggs</as>.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>To apply; to put.</def>