from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Apply \Ap*ply"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Applied}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Applying}.] [OF. aplier, F. appliquer, fr. L. applicare to
join, fix, or attach to; ad + plicare to fold, to twist
together. See {Applicant}, {Ply}.]
1. To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another);
-- with to; as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply
medicaments to a diseased part of the body.
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He said, and the sword his throat applied. --Dryden.
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2. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose,
or in a particular case; to appropriate; to devote; as, to
apply money to the payment of a debt.
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3. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable,
fitting, or relative; as, to apply the testimony to the
case; to apply an epithet to a person.
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Yet God at last
To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied. --Milton.
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4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with
attention; to attach; to incline.
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Apply thine heart unto instruction. --Prov. xxiii.
12.
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5. To direct or address. [R.]
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Sacred vows . . . applied to grisly Pluto. --Pope.
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6. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively.
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I applied myself to him for help. --Johnson.
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7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. [Obs.]
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She was skillful in applying his "humors." --Sir P.
Sidney.
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8. To visit. [Obs.]
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And he applied each place so fast. --Chapman.
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{Applied chemistry}. See under {Chemistry}.
{Applied mathematics}. See under {Mathematics}.
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