waylay

[wey-ley, wey-ley]

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.

waylay

/ weɪˈleɪ /

verb

1. to lie in wait for and attack

2. to await and intercept unexpectedly

Other Word Forms

• waylayer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of waylay¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of waylay¹

C16: from _way + _lay ¹

Example Sentences

“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?”

Read more on 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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And though it’s much easier now to find books and other media taking a range of perspectives on menopause, it’s also easy to be waylaid by influencers, charlatans and factionalism.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• accost