lay
UK: leɪ | US: leɪ
vt. to put or place something down gently or carefully
vt. to produce and deposit (an egg)
adj. not belonging to the clergy; non-professional
v. (past tense of lie) to recline or rest horizontally
The word "lay" originates from Old English lecgan, meaning "to place or put down," derived from Proto-Germanic lagjaną. It shares roots with Dutch leggen and German legen. The verb evolved to include meanings like "produce eggs" (from the action of birds placing eggs) and "non-clerical" (from the idea of being outside formal religious roles). The past tense of lie (recline) merged with "lay" due to historical conjugation overlaps in Middle English.
She lay the book on the table before leaving.
The hen lays an egg every morning.
He works as a lay preacher in his community.
The cat lay in the sun all afternoon.
Lay your coat over the chair to dry.