|
|
al·lay
 allay
- pronunciation:
leI
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
allayed, allaying, allays |
| definition 1: |
to quiet or lay to rest (fears, doubts, and the like).
Their son's message allayed their fears that he'd been injured.Hearing her read from the script allayed the director's doubts that the actress was right for the part.- synonyms:
- alleviate, calm, hush, lull, mollify, pacify, quell, quiet, relax, smooth over, soothe, still, tranquilize
- antonyms:
- arouse, intensify, provoke
- similar words:
- analysis, appease, compose, silence, simmer down, soften
|
| definition 2: |
to relieve or mitigate.
As the house burned, the sight of everyone safe outside allayed their sorrow.- synonyms:
- appease, assuage, blunt, ease, lull, mitigate, mollify, palliate, placate, quiet, relax, relieve, soothe, temper
- antonyms:
- aggravate, exacerbate, intensify, worsen
- similar words:
- adjust, alleviate, diminish, lessen, lighten, reduce
|
| related words: |
buffer, calm, hush, mollify, pacify, quench, soothe, stay |
| derivation: |
allayer (n.) |
|
|