Hypertext Webster Gateway: "play"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

{To play hob}, to play the part of a mischievous spirit; to
work mischief. Plebs \Plebs\ (pl[e^]bz), n. [L. Cf.
{Plebe}.]
1. The commonalty of ancient Rome who were citizens without
the usual political rights; the plebeians; --
distinguished from the {patricians}.

2. Hence, the common people; the populace; -- construed as a
pl.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement
or diversion; a game.

John naturally loved rough play. --Arbuthnot.

3. 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.

4. Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair
play; sword play; a play of wit. ``The next who comes in
play.'' --Dryden.

5. A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition
in which characters are represented by dialogue and
action.

A play ought to be a just image of human nature.
--Dryden.

6. The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy;
as, he attends ever play.

7. Performance on an instrument of music.

8. Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a
wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and
easy action. ``To give them play, front and rear.''
--Milton.

The joints are let exactly into one another, that
they have no play between them. --Moxon.

9. Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display;
scope; as, to give full play to mirth.

{Play actor}, an actor of dramas. --Prynne.

{Play debt}, a gambling debt. --Arbuthnot.

{Play pleasure}, idle amusement. [Obs.] --Bacon.

{A play upon words}, the use of a word in such a way as to be
capable of double meaning; punning.

{Play of colors}, prismatic variation of colors.

{To bring into play}, {To come into play}, to bring or come
into use or exercise.

{To hold in play}, to keep occupied or employed.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then
Order plays the soul. --Herbert.

2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.

3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to
play a waltz on the violin.

4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in
action; to execute; as, to play tricks.

Nature here Wantoned as in her prime, and played at
will Her virgin fancies. --Milton.

5. 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.

Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt. --Sir W.
Scott.

6. 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.

7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.

{To play off}, to display; to show; to put in exercise; as,
to play off tricks.

{To play one's cards}, to manage one's means or
opportunities; to contrive.

{Played out}, tired out; exhausted; at the end of one's
resources. [Colloq.]

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

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