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lay to

C1 formal inseparable both
In simple words

Stop a ship and wait, or say that something happened because of a certain reason.

Literal meaning: To lay (bring) something to a halt or rest.

Meanings

1 C1 formal

(Nautical) To bring a ship to a stationary position or near-stop by adjusting the sails or engines.

"The captain ordered the crew to lay to while they waited for the storm to pass."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic formal

(Archaic/formal) To attribute something to a particular cause or person.

"The failure was laid to poor planning rather than lack of effort."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The nautical sense is specialised and rare outside maritime contexts. The attributive sense ('lay to' meaning 'attribute to') is archaic in modern English and has largely been replaced by 'put down to' or 'attribute to'. Learners will rarely encounter this phrasal verb.

Commonly used with

ship vessel helm anchor cause fault

Forms

Base
lay to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lays to
he/she/it
Past simple
laid to
yesterday
Past participle
laid to
have + pp
-ing form
laying to
continuous

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