waylaid

A traveler was waylaid by bandits on a forest path.

Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of "waylay"):
   • To intercept or ambush someone in order to attack, rob, or accost them: "waylaid" describes the act of lying in wait for a person, often with hostile intent, to stop them from proceeding.
   • To stop or detain someone unexpectedly for a conversation or purpose: In a less aggressive sense, it can mean to catch someone off guard to speak with them.

Usage Examples

• To ambush or attack:

  • The bandits waylaid the travelers on the mountain pass. (The robbers ambushed the travelers to steal from them.)
  • She was waylaid by a group of thugs as she walked home. (She was intercepted and attacked by criminals.)

• To stop for a conversation:

  • I was waylaid by my neighbor on the way to work. (My neighbor stopped me unexpectedly to talk.)
  • The reporter waylaid the politician outside the building. (The reporter intercepted the politician to ask questions.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be waylaid by circumstances": to be delayed or hindered by unexpected events.

  • Our plans were waylaid by a sudden storm. (The storm unexpectedly interrupted our plans.)

• "to waylay someone with questions": to detain someone by asking many questions.

  • The eager student waylaid the professor after class. (The student stopped the professor with questions.)

Variants and Related Words

• Waylay (verb, present tense): to lie in wait for and attack or stop.

  • They plan to waylay the courier at the crossroads. (They intend to ambush the courier.)

• Waylayer (noun): a person who waylays others.

  • The waylayer was caught by the police. (The ambusher was apprehended.)

Synonyms

• Ambush: to attack from a hidden position.
• Intercept: to stop or catch someone or something moving from one place to another.
• Accost: to approach and speak to someone aggressively or boldly.

Related Idioms

• "Lie in wait": to hide and wait to attack or surprise someone.

  • The thieves lay in wait for the merchant. (The thieves hid, waiting to ambush the merchant.)

• "Jump out at": to suddenly appear and surprise someone.

  • The cat jumped out at me from behind the door. (The cat surprised me by appearing suddenly.)