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.
He said, and the sword his throat applied.
Dryden.
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.
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.
Yet God at last
To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied.
Milton.
4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention; to attach; to incline.
Apply thine heart unto instruction.
Prov. xxiii. 12.
5. To direct or address. [R.]
Sacred vows . . . applied to grisly Pluto.
Pope.
6. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively.
I applied myself to him for help.
Johnson.
7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. [Obs.]
She was skillful in applying his "humors."
Sir P. Sidney.
8. To visit. [Obs.]
And he applied each place so fast.
Chapman.
Applied chemistry. See under Chemistry. -- Applied mathematics. See under Mathematics.
© Webster 1913.
Ap*ply", v. i. 1. To suit; to agree; to have some connection, agreement, or analogy; as, this argument applies well to the case.
2. To make request; to have recourse with a view to gain something; to make application. (to); to solicit; as, to apply to a friend for information.
3. To ply; to move. [R.]
I heard the sound of an oar applying swiftly through the water.
T. Moore.
4. To apply or address one's self; to give application; to attend closely (to).
© Webster 1913. | 
