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Glite Dictionary
to waylay

to waylay

2 8.6
To stop someone unexpectedly to speak to or attack them
  • verb
  • /ˈweɪˌleɪ/
translation icon : emboscar
  • The gang decided to waylay the unsuspecting traveler and demand his money.
  • try to waylay

Examples

  • The children planned to waylay their friend on his way home from school, hoping to surprise him.

  • In any case, if two men mean to waylay you, a rifle is no answer at all.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Kevin considered trying to waylay Gawaine and demand an explanation.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • "We can simply waylay dear Dr. Rumsford while he's on his way here," she said.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Gaulish bandits are running wild, waylaying anyone who dares to take the road.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The boy waylays the tutor as he leaves, chases him along the quay, and shoves him into the harbor.

    Academic text (2008)

  • While hiking, we were waylaid by a sudden storm that forced us to seek shelter.

Synonyms

to ambush
vsto waylay
133 5.2

To attack a person or animal by hiding and surprising them

is broader and also covers nonviolent unexpected approaches
to sneak up
vsto waylay
101 4.5

To move quietly toward someone or something without being noticed

is more general and may be overt or planned rather than stealthy
to accost
vsto waylay
24 8.0

Go up to someone and speak to them in a bold or aggressive way

is wider and includes nonverbal stops not only bold speech
to blindside
vsto waylay
9 6.8

To attack someone from the side they cannot see or expect

focuses on any unexpected stop rather than a side attack
to lie in wait
vsto waylay
8 6.8

To hide and wait to attack someone by surprise

is more general and can mean simply stopping or approaching unexpectedly
to bushwhack
vsto waylay
  • Informal
2 9.0

To attack someone suddenly from a hidden place

is broader allowing also nonviolent sudden approaches to stop someone
to pull up on someone
vsto waylay
  • Slang
9.2

To arrive suddenly to confront someone, often in a challenging way

is a broader unexpected approach that can be friendly or hostile
to ambuscade
vsto waylay
9.9

To hide and then suddenly attack someone

is less formal and can mean simply stopping unexpectedly

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Aggressive

attack
∞ 1.4
ambush
130 5.5
to waylay
2 8.6
to intercept
171 5.3
to approach
316 3.0

Surface Forms

waylay infinitive
waylaying present participle
waylays third person singular
waylaid past
waylaid past participle

Morphology

waylay = way + lay (transparent) = way + lay

The verb is directly analyzable as 'way' + 'lay' (to place oneself in the way), which clearly yields the meaning 'to ambush or stop someone'.

Etymology

Waylay comes from the simple parts way and lay, which meant to 'lay' yourself in someone's path or 'way' to stop them. That's why to waylay someone is to stop or surprise them unexpectedly, often to talk to or attack them.