2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Play \Play\, v. i. [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 plegan
to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for attend to be
wont, G. pflegen of unknown origin. [root]28. Cf {Plight},
n.]
1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for
the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
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 WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
played
adj : (of games) engaged in "the loosely played game"
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