Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ply
Ply
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Plied
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Plying
.] 1.
To bend.
[Obs.]
As men may warm wax with handes
plie
. Chaucer.
2.
To lay on closely, or in folds; to work upon steadily, or with repeated acts; to press upon; to urge importunately;
as, to
. ply
one with questions, with solicitations, or with drinkAnd
plies
him with redoubled strokes Dryden.
He
plies
the duke at morning and at night. Shakespeare
3.
To employ diligently; to use steadily.
Go
ply
thy needle; meddle not. Shakespeare
4.
To practice or perform with diligence; to work at.
Their bloody task, unwearied, still they
ply
. Waller.
Ply
,Verb.
I.
1.
To bend; to yield.
[Obs.]
It would rather burst atwo than
plye
. Chaucer.
The willow
plied
, and gave way to the gust. L’Estrange.
2.
To act, go, or work diligently and steadily; especially, to do something by repeated actions; to go back and forth;
as, a steamer
. plies
between certain portsEre half these authors be read (which will soon be with
plying
hard and daily). Milton.
He was forced to
ply
in the streets as a porter. Addison.
The heavy hammers and mallets
plied
. Longfellow.
3.
(Naut.)
To work to windward; to beat.
1.
A fold; a plait; a turn or twist, as of a cord.
Arbuthnot.
2.
Bent; turn; direction; bias.
The late learners can not so well take the
ply
. Bacon.
Boswell, and others of Goldsmith's contemporaries, . . . did not understand the secret
plies
of his character. W. Irving.
The czar's mind had taken a strange
ply
, which it retained to the last. Macaulay.
☞ Ply is used in composition to designate folds, or the number of webs interwoven; as, a three-ply carpet.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ply
PLY
,Verb.
T.
1.
To lay on, to put to or on with force and repetition; to apply to closely, with continuation of efforts or urgency. And plies him with redoubled strokes.
The hero from afar
Plies him with darts and stones.
We retain the precise sense in the phrase to lay on, to put it on him.
2.
To employ with diligence; to apply closely and steadily; to keep busy. Her gentle wit she plies.
The wearied Trojans ply their shattered oars.
3.
To practice or perform with diligence. Their bloody task, unweari'd, still they ply.
4.
To urge; to solicit with pressing or persevering importunity. He plies the duke at morning and at night.
5.
To urge; to press; to strain; to force.PLY
,Verb.
I.
The willow plied and gave way to the gust.
1.
To work steadily. He was forced to ply in the streets.
2.
To go in haste. Thither he plies undaunted.
3.
To busy one's self; to be steadily employed.4.
To endeavor to make way against the wind.PLY
,Noun.
1.
Bent; turn; direction; bias. The late learners cannot so well take the ply.