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Webster 1913 Edition

Waylay

Way′layˊ

(?; 277)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Waylaid
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Waylaying
.]
[
Way
+
lay
.]
To lie in wait for; to meet or encounter in the way; especially, to watch for the passing of, with a view to seize, rob, or slay; to beset in ambush.
Falstaff, Bardolph, Peto, and Gadshill shall rob those men that we have already
waylaid
.
Shakespeare
She often contrived to
waylay
him in his walks.
Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1828 Edition

Waylay

WAYLAY

,
Verb.
T.
[way and lay.] To watch insidiously in the way, with a view to seize, rob or slay; to beset in ambush; as, to waylay a traveler. [In this word there is little difference of accent.]

Definition 2024

waylay

waylay

English

Verb

waylay ‎(third-person singular simple present waylays, present participle waylaying, simple past and past participle waylaid or (nonstandard) waylayed)

  1. (transitive) To lie in wait for and attack from ambush.
  2. (transitive) To accost or intercept unexpectedly.

Translations

See also

Etymology

way +‎ lay, likely from Middle Dutch wegelagen ‎(“besetting of ways, lying in wait with evil or hostile intent along public ways”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌweɪˈleɪ/, /ˈweɪleɪ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈweɪleɪ/
  • Rhymes: -eɪ

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