waylay

[ wey-ley, wey-ley ]

verb (used with object)

, way·laid [wey, -leyd, wey-, leyd], way·lay·ing.

1. to intercept or attack from ambush, as in order to rob, seize, or slay.
2. to await and accost unexpectedly:

   The actor was waylaid by a swarm of admirers.

waylay

/ weɪˈleɪ /

verb

1. to lie in wait for and attack
2. to await and intercept unexpectedly

Derived Forms

• wayˈlayer, noun

Other Words From

• waylayer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of waylay¹

First recorded in 1505–15; way ¹ + lay ¹, after Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wegelagen “to lie in wait,” derivative of wegelage “a lying in wait”

Word History and Origins

Origin of waylay¹

C16: from way + lay ¹

Example Sentences

Like Ken Griffey Jr. before him, Trout’s mid-career injury problems have waylaid a meteoric career and stalled his historic rate of production at the plate.

From Seattle Times

Built on the bones of A Bug’s Land, construction for the Avengers Campus was waylaid due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but eventually opened to much fanfare within California Adventure.

From Los Angeles Times

Steel, an insurance company vice president before her retirement, and her husband, Rich Booman, discovered the project during the pandemic when their travel plans were waylaid.

From Seattle Times

There had previously been other investigations, some of which have been waylaid by similar issues.

From New York Times

Back in 1953, winemakers, seeing their profits collapse, set their wooden carts across a national highway at the start of the summer holiday to demand government aid and offer tastings to waylaid drivers.

From New York Times

Related Words

• accost