- Apply
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
He said, and the sword his throat applied. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Yet God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention; to attach; to incline. [1913 Webster]
Apply thine heart unto instruction. --Prov. xxiii. 12. [1913 Webster]
5. To direct or address. [R.] [1913 Webster]
Sacred vows . . . applied to grisly Pluto. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
6. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively. [1913 Webster]
I applied myself to him for help. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
She was skillful in applying his ``humors.'' --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
8. To visit. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
And he applied each place so fast. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
{Applied chemistry}. See under {Chemistry}.
{Applied mathematics}. See under {Mathematics}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.