OVERLA'Y, verb transitive

1. To lay too much upon; to oppress with incumbent weight; as a country overlaid with inhabitants.

Our sins have overlaid our hopes.

2. To cover to spread over the surface; as, to overlay capitals of columns with silver; cedar overlaid with gold.

3. To smother with close covering; as, to overlay an infant.

4. To overwhelm; to smother.

A heap of ashes that o'er lays your fire.

5. To cloud; to overcast.

- As when a cloud his beam doth overlay

6. To cover; to join two opposite sides by a cover.

And overlay with this portentous bridge the dark abyss.