To have faith, confidence, or belief in someone or something; to care about, appreciate, or respect someone or something. I, however, have laid store by the promise of the afterlife, so I choose to lead my life piously and devoutly. I'm afraid my brother should be kept off the list of guests, as he's not one to lay great store by obeying social rules or etiquette. It's important to have close friends in life that you may lay store by when times are tough.