waylay

American  

[wey-ley, wey-ley] / ˈweɪˌleɪ, weɪˈleɪ /

verb (used with object)

waylaid, waylaying

1. to intercept or attack from ambush, as in order to rob, seize, or slay.

2. to await and accost unexpectedly.

   The actor was waylaid by a swarm of admirers.

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waylay British  

/ weɪˈleɪ /

verb

1. to lie in wait for and attack

2. to await and intercept unexpectedly

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Other Word Forms

• waylayer noun

Etymology

Origin of waylay

First recorded in 1505–15; way ¹ + lay ¹, after Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wegelagen “to lie in wait,” derivative of wegelage “a lying in wait”

Example Sentences

Most projects take years to complete, hindered by the pendulum swings of available money, so Brewster tempers her frustration at having to waylay them mid-planning until she can find enough cash.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It is the stolen velocipede that has waylaid Mr. Harley-Dickinson, I am certain of it. He must have been stopped by a police officer, for why else would he not be here as planned?”

From Literature

McLean, a 32-year-old data analyst in Chicago, was monitoring his wife’s scheduled United flight to New York on a hunch it would be waylaid by the shutdown and a coming snowstorm.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Ukrainians descended the steps, to be met with a low-key American greeting, and with their optimism, like a piece of waylaid luggage, lost somewhere en route.

From BBC

Creator Loren Bouchard and actor H. Jon Benjamin — who voices the “Bob” of the title — were unexpectedly waylaid by illness and travel troubles, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accost