As Cannace was playing in her walk. --Chaucer.
The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy
reason, would he skip and play! --Pope.
And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling
with the flame and sword. --Keble.
2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be
careless.
``Nay,'' quod this monk, ``I have no lust to
pleye.'' --Chaucer.
Men are apt to play with their healths. --Sir W.
Temple.
3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball;
hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.
4. To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a
flute.
One that . . . can play well on an instrument.
--Ezek.
xxxiii. 32.
Play, my friend, and charm the charmer. --Granville.
5. To act; to behave; to practice deception.
His mother played false with a smith. --Shak.
6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with
alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as,
the fountain plays.
The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs
play. --Cheyne.
7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.
Even as the waving sedges play with wind. --Shak.
The setting sun Plays on their shining arms and
burnished helmets. --Addison.
All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round
the head, but comes not to the heart. --Pope.
8. To act on the stage; to personate a character.
A lord will hear your play to-night. --Shak.
Courts are theaters where some men play. --Donne.
{To play into a person's hands}, to act, or to manage
matters, to his advantage or benefit.
{To play off}, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice.
{To play upon}.
(a) To make sport of; to deceive.
Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon
our eyesight. --Shak.
(b) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression
or application to; as, to play upon words.
{Playing cards}. See under {Card}.