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Webster 1913 Edition


Overlay

Oˊver-lay′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Overlaid
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Overlaying
.]
1.
To lay, or spread, something over or across; hence, to cover; to overwhelm; to press excessively upon.
When any country is
overlaid
by the multitude which live upon it.
Sir W. Raleigh.
As when a cloud his beams doth
overlay
.
Spenser.
Framed of cedar
overlaid
with gold.
Milton.
And
overlay

With this portentous bridge the dark abyss.
Milton.
3.
To smother with a close covering, or by lying upon.
This woman’s child died in the night; because she
overlaid
it.
1 Kings iii. 19.
A heap of ashes that
o'erlays
your fire.
Dryden.
4.
(Printing)
To put an overlay on.

O′ver-layˊ

,
Noun.
1.
A covering.
Sir W. Scott.
2.
(Printing)
A piece of paper pasted upon the tympan sheet to improve the impression by making it stronger at a particular place.

Webster 1828 Edition


Overlay

OVERLA'Y

, v.t.
1.
To lay too much upon; to oppress with incumbent weight; as a country overlaid with inhabitants.
Our sins have overlaid our hopes.
2.
To cover to spread over the surface; as, to overlay capitals of columns with silver; cedar overlaid with gold.
3.
To smother with close covering; as, to overlay an infant.
4.
To overwhelm; to smother.
A heap of ashes that o'er lays your fire.
5.
To cloud; to overcast.
- As when a cloud his beam doth overlay.
6.
To cover; to join two opposite sides by a cover.
And overlay with this portentous bridge the dark abyss.