alloy, allay, ala ye

t. [Apparently from the verb, rather than the verb from it. In Fr. allier = (1) to ally, to unite, to alloy; Port. ligar; Lat. ligo = to bind.] [ALLAY.] L. Literally: 1. To mingle a precious metal with one of a baser character. "Silver may be readily alloyed with most metals." -Graham: Chem . , 2nd ed., vol. ii., p. 348. 2. To mingle two metals together without reference to the question whether one is more and the other le precious. II. Fig .: To diminish the purity or value of anything by mingling with it that which is inferior to it in these respects. (Sometimes it has after it with , or more rarely by . ) "His history appears to be better ascertained than that of his father, Cypselus; but the accounts of him are largely alloyed with fable."- Lewis : Early Rom. Hist ., ch. xiv., § 14. learned with delight, alloyed by shame Macaulay: Hist. Eng. ch. IMG:content-0400.jpg:[blocks in formation] alliage, from allier = to alloy.] alloying metals; also, the combination thus formed. ( Lavoisier.) al-loyed', pa. par. & a. [ALLOY, v.] al-loy-ing, pr. par. [ALLOY, v.]