waylay

UK: /ˌweɪˈleɪ/ US: /ˈweɪˌleɪ, weɪˈleɪ/ ,(wā′lā′, wā lā′)

Inflections of 'waylay' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

waylays

v 3rd person singular

waylaying

v pres p

waylaid

v past

waylaid

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

way•lay /ˈweɪˌleɪ, weɪˈleɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -laid, -lay•ing. 

1. to intercept or attack from a position of hiding or ambush:
   to waylay him while he was crossing the alley.
2. to await and then rush up to greet, confront, solicit, etc., unexpectedly:
   to waylay the boss in the hallway.

way•lay•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

way•lay  (wā′lā′, wā lā′), v.t., -laid, -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.

• way¹ + lay¹, after Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wegelagen to lie in wait, derivative of wegelage a lying in wait 1505–15

way′lay′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

waylay / weɪˈleɪ/ verb ( -lays, -laying, -laid)(transitive)

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

Etymology: 16th Century: from way + lay¹

wayˈlayer noun