| Play (play) |
|---|
| v. i. | (?) |
|---|
| Play |
| [imp. *** p.
p. Played (?)] p. pr. *** vb. n.
Playing.] [OE. pleien, AS. plegian,
plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion,
and probably to OS. ple |
To engage in sport or lively recreation; to
exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to
trifle; to be careless.
To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to
play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy
stakes.
To perform on an instrument of music; as,
to play on a flute.
To act; to behave; to practice
deception.
To move in any manner; especially, to move
regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act;
as, the fountain plays.
To move gayly; to wanton; to
disport.
To act on the stage; to personate a
character.
|
To
put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a
fortification; to play a trump.
To perform music upon; as, to play
the flute or the organ.
To perform, as a piece of music, on an
instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.
To bring into sportive or wanton action; to
exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.
To act or perform (a play); to represent in
music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the
character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as,
to play King Lear; to play the woman.
To engage in, or go together with, as a
contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a
game at baseball.
To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order
to land it.
|
Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.
Any exercise, or series of actions,
intended for amusement or diversion; a game.
The act or practice of contending for
victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards;
gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play.
Action; use; employment; exercise;
practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of
wit.
A dramatic composition; a comedy or
tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue
and action.
The representation or exhibition of a
comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.
Performance on an instrument of
music.
Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as,
the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion;
free and easy action.
Hence, liberty of acting; room for
enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to
mirth.
|
| Play (play) |
|---|
| n. | (pl bz) |
|---|
| Play |
| L. Cf.
Plebe.] |
The commonalty of ancient Rome
who were citizens without the usual political rights; the plebeians; -
- distinguished from the patricians.
Hence, the common people; the populace; --
construed as a pl.
|
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In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 