LAY

I. verb (laid; ~ing) see: lie Date: before 12th century transitive verb to beat or strike down with force, 2. to put or set down , to place for rest or sleep, to bring forth and deposit (an egg), calm , al~ , bet , wager , to press down giving a smooth and even surface, 7. to dispose or spread over or on a surface , to set in order or position , to put (strands) in place and twist to form a rope, hawser, or cable, 8. to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment , to put as a burden of reproach , to advance as an accusation ; impute , to place (something immaterial) on something , prepare , contrive , 11. to bring against or into contact with something ; apply , to prepare or position for action or operation , to bring to a specified condition , 13. assert , allege , to submit for examination and judgment , to copulate with, intransitive verb to produce and deposit eggs, lie I, wager , bet , plan , prepare , 5. to apply oneself vigorously , to proceed to a specified place or position on a ship , Usage: see: ~ II. noun Date: 1590 covert , lair , something (as a ~er) that lies or is laid, 3. line of action ; plan , line of work ; occupation , 4. terms of sale or employment ; price , share of profit (as on a whaling voyage) paid in lieu of wages, 5. the amount of advance of any point in a rope strand for one turn, the nature of a fiber rope as determined by the amount of twist, the angle of the strands, and the angle of the threads in the strands, the way in which a thing lies or is laid in relation to something else , the state of one that ~s eggs , 8. a partner in sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse , see: lie IV. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French lai Date: 13th century a simple narrative poem ; ballad , melody , song , V. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French lai, from Late Latin laicus, from Greek laikos of the people, from laos people Date: 15th century of or relating to the laity ; not ecclesiastical, of or relating to members of a religious house occupied with domestic or manual work , not of a particular profession