Definition of "allay" []

• To reduce the intensity of; relieve: allay back pains. See Synonyms at relieve. (verb-transitive)
• To calm or pacify; set to rest: allayed the fears of the worried citizens. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Another fear Obama isn't going to be able to allay is that of the effects of spending a few trillion bucks we don't have: higher taxes, higher national debt, higher inflation ..."
• "The government has to do something to kind of allay their fears or we'll never get on track, right?"
• "So for Secretary Rice, it's a very delicate balance to kind of allay European concerns, at the same time, not compromise any U.S. intelligence matters."