• lay

FromMiddle Englishlai,lay, fromOld Frenchlai(“song, lyric, poem”), from OldFrankish*laik, *laih(“play, melody, song”), fromProto-Germanic*laikaz,*laikiz(“jump, play, dance, hymn”), fromProto-Indo-European*leyg-(“to jump, spring, play”). Akin toOld High Germanleih(“a play, skit, melody, song”),Middle High Germanleich(“piece of music, epic song played on a harp”),Gothic𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌺𐍃(laiks,“a dance”),Old Englishlācan(“to move quickly, fence, sing”). More atlake.

• IPA^(key):/laɪ/
• Rhymes:-aɪ
• Homophones:Leigh,lie,lye

lai (plurallais)

1. (historical) A mostly North Europeanmedieval form of lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance, withstanzas that do not repeat.

•  lai on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• lai lai
• lai see

• -ial,Ali,IAL,LIA,ail,ali-

• laiu

Uncertain. CompareRomanianlai,Albanianljaj.

lai

1. black
2. (figurative)poor,miserable,unfortunate
3. (figurative)wicked,bad

• (black):negru
• (poor, unfortunate):mãrat,curbusit,stuhinat,scurpisit,buisit,vãpsit
• (wicked, bad):arãu,slab,urut,cãtrãcearcu,afischcu,tihilai,blãstimat

• lãeatsã
• lãiturã
• lãescu
• lãilji

• lei

lai

1. (Austria,Tyrol)only,just

FromLatinilla.

lai (masculineleorlou,pluralles)

1. (feminine nouns)the

Inherited fromOld Frenchla, fromLatinilla.

IPA^(key):/lɛ/

lai (masculinelou,pluralles)

1. (feminine nouns)the

• Daunay, Jean (1998)Parlers de Champagne : Pour un classement thématique du vocabulaire des anciens parlers de Champagne (Aube - Marne - Haute-Marne)‎^[2] (in French), Rumilly-lés-Vaudes
• Baudoin, Alphonse (1885)Glossaire de la forêt de Clairvaux‎^[3] (in French), Troyes

FromProto-Finnic*lakja, originally from a Germanic source. Cognate toFinnishlaaja,Livonianlaiga.

lai (genitivelaia,partitivelaia,comparativelaiem,superlativekõige laiem)

1. wide,broad

• IPA^(key):/lɛ/

Inherited fromMiddle Frenchlai, fromOld Frenchlai(“song, lyric, poem”), fromFrankish*laik, *laih(“play, melody, song”), fromProto-Germanic*laikaz,*laikiz(“jump, play, dance, hymn”), fromProto-Indo-European*leyg-(“to jump, spring, play”). Akin toOld High Germanleih(“a play, skit, melody, song”),Middle High Germanleich(“piece of music, epic song played on a harp”),Old Englishlācan(“to move quickly, fence, sing”). More atlake. Alternatively from Celtic; compareOld Irishlaíd(“poem”).

lai m (plurallais)

1. (historical) a mostly North Europeanmedieval form of lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance., withstanzas that do not repeat

Inherited fromOld Frenchlai, fromLatinlāicus.Doublet oflaïque.

lai (femininelaie,masculine plurallais,feminine plurallaies)

1. (archaic)lay(not clerical)

   Synonym:laïque

2. Still used in the termsfrère lai,sœur laie, which see.

   Synonym:convers

• “lai”, inTrésor de la langue française informatisé[Digitized Treasury of the French Language],2012.

• ail,lia

lai

1. plural ofla

lai

1. side

lai

1. here(this place)
   • 1877, Antonio Ive,Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page40:

     Vuoltite biunduleîna inversolai,

     Turn around towardsthis place, little blonde,

FromProto-Hmong-Mien*-ʔræi(“vegetable”). Cognate withWhite Hmongzaub andWestern Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang]reib.

lai 

1. vegetable

FromProto-Khasian*laaj. ComparePnarle,Lyngngamlaj,War-Jaintialɛ.

• IPA^(key):/laːj/

lai

1. three

• 'lai

• Singh, U Nissor (1906)Khasi-English dictionary‎^[4], Shillong: Eastern Bengal and Assam Secretariat Press, page109. Searchable online atSEAlang.net.

FromProto-Malayo-Polynesian*laki. Cognate withIndonesianlaki.

lai

1. husband

• Rina, A. Dj., Kabba, John Lado B. (2011) “lai”, inKamus Bahasa Lamboya, Kabupaten Sumba Bakat [Dictionary of Lamboya Language, West Sumba Regency], Waikabubak: Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata, Kabupaten Sumba Bakat, page58
• Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*laki”, in the CLDF dataset fromThe Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–),→DOI

Traditionally,lai is derived from the imperative form of the verblaist(“to allow, to permit”) (quod vide):laid →lai, an evolution reminiscent ofRussianпускай(puskaj),пусть(pustʹ,“let, so be”) fromпускать(puskatʹ,“to allow, to permit”). The formlaid is indeed attested as a conjunction in the earliest sources. This view, however, has been recently criticized on the basis thatLatvianlai,Lithuanianlai̇̃ are clearly related toOld Prussian-lai, which is added to (usually infinitive) verbs to indicatevolitive orconditional mood. This suggests aProto-Baltic form*lai, probably related to the final-le of Latvian reinforcing particlesjele ~jel,nule, and (dialectal)nele, and toOld Prussian-le, apparently a variant of-lai. This*le would then have the same origin asProto-Slavic*li (comparePolishli(“only”)Russianли(li)), with cognates in other languages (Albanian, Tocharian) from a basicProto-Indo-European*l-. After this criticism, the relationship betweenlai andlaist has become unclear. MaybeProto-Indo-European*l- was an old verb, or maybelaist was derived from an older particle.^[1]

• IPA^(key):[laî]

• Audio:

  (file)

lai

1. with theconditional, indicatingpurpose, sometimescause; sometimescorrelating withtāpēc,tādēļ in themain clause;so that,in order to,in order that

   lai varētu labāk pārredzēt apkārtni, bija jāuzkāpj tornī

   in order to be able to see the surroundings better, it was necessary to climb the tower

   kad viņa, laimīgi smiedamās, pacēla savu glāzi,lai saskandinātu ar viesiem, es noraudzījos ar klusu skaudību

   when she, laughing happily, lifted her glass,in order to clink glasses with the visitors, I watched with quiet envy

   gājējiem jāraugās,lai dēļa vaļējais gals neiesistu pa pieri

   the passers-by must be careful,so that the free end of the log does not hit them on the forehead

   apģērbam un apaviem jābūt ērtiem,lai tie netraucētu kustības

   clothes and shoes must be comfortable,so that they don't disturb (one's) movement

   kafiju nedrīkst vārīt,lai tā nezaudētu aromātu

   coffee should not be boiled,so that it doesn't lose its aroma

   es mācos tikai tāpēc,lai labāk noderētu lielajā cīņā

   I learn onlyso that I can serve better in the great fight

   studēt es gribu tikai tādēļ,lai pati vairāk zinātu unlai iegūtās zināšanas varētu atdot citiem

   I want to study onlyso that I will know more andso that the knowledge gained can be given to others

2. indicatingconcession,especially in thecombinationslaigan,laiarī;though,although,even though

   lai cīņas būs grūtas, mēs uzvarēsim

   though the fight will be difficult, we will win

   un,lai ļaudis sacījuši ko sacīdami, jaunā sieva katru sliktu vārdu atvairījusi

   and,although the people said what(ever) they wanted, the young wife deflected every bad word

   pēc teātra Vilis Virpuls palika uz deju,lai gan nekad nedejoja

   after the theater Vilis Virpuls stayed at the dance,even though he never danced

   viņš atbrauca ātri,lai gan ceļš bija slikts

   he came quickly,although the road was bad

   lai arī dārzs ir mazliet nolaists, tas tomēr ir skaists

   although the garden is a little neglected, it still is beautiful

3. indicatingstrongconcession, incombination witharī,nu,vai and withinterrogativepronouns likecik,kāds,kurš,kas,kur;no matterhow,which,who,what,where;however,wherever,whichever,whoever,whatever,wherever

   viņa bija viņam iedvesusi ticību, ka viņš skatīs sauli,lai arī cik grūti būtu pašreiz

   she had inspired in him the belief that he would look at the sun,no matter how difficult this would be now

   mēs visi būsim kopā,lai kā mums kuram ies

   we will all be together,no matter how it goes for us

   lai vai kā, es tomēr runāšu

   no matter how (= whatever happens), I will still speak

   lai kur kāds runā, viņš tūdaļ pretī ar savu

   wherever someone speaks, he immediately (goes) against him with his (words, opinions)

   lai nu tālu, tomēr kādos svētkos raudzīšu attikt

   however far (it may be), I will still try to be at the celebration

4. aftercertainverbs,introducing adirect objectclause;that,for ...to,to

   zīlītes vairs negaidīja,lai Ilzīte viņas baro

   the titmice no longer waitedfor Ilzīteto feed them

   nē, viņa lūdza,lai es apturu mašīnu

   no, she askedthat I stop the car

   vai nevajadzētu paziņot,lai atbrauc viņa piederīgie?

   couldn't (you) have informed (us)that his people would come back?

   bērnu stomatoloģiskajā poliklīnikā galvenokārt rūpējas par to,lai zobi tiktu savlaicīgi salaboti

   in the children's dental clinic, one cares primarilythat the (children's) teeth will be repaired in time

5. indicatingmanner and/orpurpose,usuallycorrelating with anadverb liketā(“like that”) in themainclause;so that,suchthat,in such a way that

   runā,lai var ko saprast

   speakso that (=in such a way that) one can understand something

   lampu novietutā, lai gaisma krīt no augšas un kreisās puses

   the lamp (is) placedin such a way that the light falls from the top and (from) the left side

   tu centies to pateikt saudzīgi,tā, lai mani nesāpinātu

   you try to say it gently,in such a way that it won't hurt me

6. indicatingconsequence,especially withtik(“so (much)”),pārāk(“too much”) and anadjective orparticiple in themainclause;so that,so ...that,too (much) ...for,to,that

   pie debesīm stāvēja pusmēness, izplatīdams pietiekošu krēslu,lai celiņu uz riju varētu redzēt

   on the sky (there) was a half moon, spreading enough light (lit. dawn),so that one could see the little path to the barn

   aitas bijušastik vājas,lai vējš apgāztu

   the sheep wereso weakthat the wind (would) turn them over

   zemnieki bijapārāk iebaidīti,lai nakts laikā rādītos ārpus mājām

   the peasants weretoo intimidatedto show themselves outside during the night

   nebija vēl noadītitik biezi cimdi,lai tagad, laukā braucot, nesaltu rokas

   (one) had not yet knitsuch thick glovesthat, going out now, (one's) hands wouldn't freeze

lai

1. used toexpress anoptative (wish)nuance:may,may itbethat

   lai dabas spēkus gudrs cilvēks veic ―may the wise person lead the forces of nature

   lai visas dienas labus vārdus teic ―may all days bring (lit. say) good words

   lai viss sils izdegtu! ―may the whole (pine) forest burn!

   lai dzīvo! ―(long)may he live! hooray!

   tie ir trakāki par baroniem... velnslai viņus parauj!

   those (people) are crazier than the barons...may the devil take them!

2. used toexpressencouragement,agreement:let

   ja tu, Zane, nevari,lai paliek šovakar govis neslauktas ―if you, Zane, can't (do it),let the cows remain unmilked tonight

   draugi mani atkal uzaicināja medībās: “labi”, es teicu, “lai notiek; bet pēdējo reizi!”

   friends invited me again to hunt: “OK,” I said, “let it happen (= I'll go); but (for) the last time!”

3. used tomarkthirdpersonimperativeforms ofverbs;sometimesused with thefirstpersonalso:let

   “lai taču viņš iet”, Aina saka; “lai viņš iet, es arī neturēšu viņu,lai iet,lai iet”

   “butlet him go,” Aina said, “let him go, I also won't keep him,let (him) go,let (him) go”

   lai vēlam putnam laimīgu lidojumu! ―let us wish the bird a happy flight!

4. used togive anuance ofindecision ordoubt,especially in aquestionshould,could

   kolai viņam saku, kādu padomulai dodu? ―whatshould I say to him, what adviceshould I give?

   man vajadzīgs padoms; es nezinu, pie kā citalai griežos

   I need advice; I don't know who else Icould turn to (but you)

   es prasu zemei, kur meklētlai eju ―I ask the earth, whereshould I go to look for (it)?

5. (colloquial)used toaddstrength to aword orexpression, tolink itmoretightly to therest of thesentence

   Soklēns gribēja savus viesus uzjautrināt ar pajāšanos; seglilai bija iegādāti

   Soklēns wanted to cheer his guests up with some (horse) riding; the saddles wereeven ready (already)

   vasarā, kad būs āboli, vai tad nāksi ciemos? ar medulai pacienāšu, jā?

   during the summer, when there will be apples, maybe then you will come visit? and I willalso treat you with honey, yes?

6. used toreinforce aword,highlighting it among others

   tūliņ svied tās meijas nost un meklē rīksti rokā! vai lopi līdz vakaramlai kūtī stāv?

   throw those boughs away right now and go get your rod! are the animalsreally going to stay in the barn till night?

7. used, sometimes withnu orir, toindicatetolerance of, oragreement with, someone else

   protams, mājās būs vēl nepatīkamāka saruna, to es zinu pavisam skaidri, betlai!

   of course, at home there will still be an unpleasant talk, I know that very well, andhow (= boy do I)!

   “lai nu,lai nu, Birkenbaum,” Grīntāls mierināja ―“OK,OK, Birkenbaum,” Grīntāls comforted (him)

   “esi gan tu muļķa meitene”, Karlīne zobojās; “a,lai ir!” Annele spītīgi atcirta

   “you are indeed a stupid girl,” Karlīne mocked; “ah,so be it!” Annele snapped angrily back

   lai jau būtu ―let it be, so be it

lai

1. beach

Borrowed fromHokkien梨 (lâi, “pear”).

• IPA^(key):/ˈlaj/ [ˈlai̯]
• Rhymes:-ai̯

lai (Jawi spellingلاي,plurallai-lai)

1. pear

• “lai” inPusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur:Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.

lai

1. Nonstandard spelling oflái.
2. Nonstandard spelling oflǎi.
3. Nonstandard spelling oflài.

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the criticaltonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

FromEnglishlie.

lai (plurallais)

1. lie(intentionally false statement)
   • 1983,Kenneth M. Bilby, “How the "older heads" talk: a Jamaican Maroon spirit possession language and its relationship to the creoles of Suriname and Sierra Leone”, inNew West Indian Guide,→ISSN, page72:

     if im a tellais, wen im bin bak wi de go go na in sikin.

     If he is tellinglies, when he comes back we will go to his body.

FromLatinlacus.

laioblique singular, m (oblique plurallais,nominative singularlais,nominative plurallai)

1. pond,lake
2. trench,ditch
3. grave

Origin uncertain. Cognate withOccitanlais. Usually conjectured to be either ofGermanic orCeltic origin. If from the former, probably fromFrankish*laik(“game, sport, song, music”), related toOld High Germanleich(“song, melody, music”); if the latter, akin toOld Irishloíd, fromProto-Celtic*loydā, fromProto-Indo-European*leyd-(“to let, let go”), however the Oxford English dictionary calls a Celtic origin "out of the question".^[1]

laioblique singular, m (oblique plurallais,nominative singularlais,nominative plurallai)

1. lai(Medieval text)

• French:lai
• → Middle English:lay
  • English:lay

FromVulgar Latin*laitus, fromFrankish*laiþ(“hateful”).

lai m (oblique and nominative feminine singularlaie)

1. ugly

• French:laid

lai

1. Alternative spelling oflaí

FromProto-Khasian*la:j ~ *la:c. The expected reflex is*le. Cognate withKhasileit.

• IPA^(key):/laj/

lai 

1. togo

• lău

Uncertain. Several explanations exist. One derives it fromAlbanianljaj, itself possibly fromLatinflavus, but this is uncertain, and it may be that the Albanian is derived from Proto-Romanian (or Aromanian- compare the cognatelaiu,lae in this language). Other theories suggest a Romanian root*gălai, fromLatingalla or alternatively an etymology fromlabes(“fault, defect”), extending the meaning to "spot" and hence, "black" or "dark", but as it is a secondary meaning in Latin, this is not very likely. A more likely explanation may be a relation to the verbla(“to wash”), aslai is used mostly to describe the natural color of wool resulting from washing (compare the similar secondary senses ofSpanishcrudo,Frenchécru).^[1]

• IPA^(key):/laj/

lai m orn (feminine singularlaie,plurallăi)

1. (popular)black (or black mixed with white),gray

   Synonyms:negru,brumăriu

FromLatinlacus, fromProto-Italic*lakus, fromProto-Indo-European*lókus(“lake, pool”).

lai m (plurallais)

1. lake

• lag(Sursilvan, Sutsilvan)
• laitg(Sutsilvan)
• lej(Puter)

FromLatinlectus.

lai f (plurallais)

1. (Vallader)marriage,matrimony

• lètg(Rumantsch Grischun,Sursilvan,Surmiran)
• alach(Puter)
• letg(Sutsilvan)

• (Hà Nội)IPA^(key):[laːj˧˧]
• (Huế)IPA^(key):[laːj˧˧]
• (Saigon)IPA^(key):[laːj˧˧]

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading ofChinese騾(“mule”,SV:la,loa).

lai

1. Short forlai giống(“tocrossbreed”).

lai

1. ofmixedblood;crossbred

   conlai ―crossbred offspring/Amerasian/Eurasian/mestizo

lai

1. (Central Vietnam,Southern Vietnam)hemline;turn-up

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading ofChinese釐(“aweightunit”,SV:li).

lai

1. (Central Vietnam,Southern Vietnam)hundredthpart of atael (equal to 0.378 g)

lai

1. (Central Vietnam) tocarry (someone) on one'sbicycle ormotorbikepillion; togive someone alift on the bicycle or motorbike
2. totow

(classifiercây)lai

1. candlenut;candleberry (Aleurites moluccanus)

• lia

lai

1. Soft mutation ofllai(“smaller”).

FromProto-Tai*ʰlaːjᴬ(“many;much”), fromOld Chinese多 (OC*[t.l]ˤaj) (B-S). Cognate withThaiหลาย(lǎai),Northern Thaiᩉ᩠ᩃᩣ᩠ᨿ,Laoຫຼາຍ(lāi),Lüᦜᦻ(l̇aay),Khünᩉ᩠ᩃᩣ᩠ᨿ,Shanလၢႆ(lǎai),Bouyeilaail,Saekหล่าย. Compare Jizhaolaːi²¹.

• (Standard Zhuang)IPA^(key):/laːi˨˦/
• Tone numbers: lai¹
• Hyphenation: lai

lai (Sawndip forms𫯓or來or𡥧or𡃤,1957–1982 spellinglai)

1. many,much,a lot

   Antonym:noix

• geijlai
• haujlai

lai (Sawndip forms𫯓or來or𡥧or𡃤,1957–1982 spellinglai)

1. more
2. comparatively;more
3. too;exceedingly;very