waylay

[ wey-ley, wey-ley ]

/ ˈweɪˌleɪ, weɪˈleɪ /

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See synonyms for: waylay / waylaid on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), way·laid

[wey-leyd, wey-leyd], /ˈweɪˌleɪd, weɪˈleɪd/, way·lay·ing.

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

to await and accost unexpectedly: The actor was waylaid by a swarm of admirers.

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Origin of waylay

First recorded in 1505–15; way¹ + lay¹, after Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wegelagen “to lie in wait,” derivative of wegelage “a lying in wait”

OTHER WORDS FROM waylay

waylayer, noun

Words nearby waylay

wayfaring tree, waygoing, waygoing crop, waylaid, Wayland, waylay, wayleave, wayleggo, wayless, waymark, waymarked

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use waylay in a sentence

Eager to be reunited with her husband Lim Lee, whose father was an American citizen, Shee voyaged from Hong Kong to San Francisco just before the 1924 Immigration Act, at which point the law’s enactment led to her being waylaid on Angel Island.
The Overlooked History of Angel Island, Where the U.S. Enforced Rules Designed to Keep Asian Immigrants Out|Video by Arpita Aneja|May 3, 2021|Time
Then the gang did deliberately combine to waylay and attack Lieutenant Overton and Terry?
Uncle Sam's Boys as Lieutenants|H. Irving Hancock
There are many matters in which you may waylay Destiny, and bid him stand and deliver.
The Pocket R.L.S.|Robert Louis Stevenson
"Really, there's a conspiracy of Brydones to waylay us this afternoon," Guy exclaimed, petulantly.
Plashers Mead|Compton Mackenzie

One way is, to waylay their schooner at sea, capture her, and then go into the Cove and destroy the settlement.
A Middy of the King|Harry Collingwood
In my time it was kept and patrolled by a one-eyed, uncanny-looking old sweeper who used to waylay me for pennies.
Polly the Pagan|Isabel Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for waylay

waylay

/ (weɪˈleɪ) /

verb -lays, -laying or -laid (tr)

to lie in wait for and attack

to await and intercept unexpectedly

Derived forms of waylay

waylayer, noun

Word Origin for waylay

C16: from way + lay 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

waylay

Origin of waylay

OTHER WORDS FROM waylay

Words nearby waylay

Words related to waylay

How to use waylay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for waylay

Derived forms of waylay

Word Origin for waylay