English

Etymology

Old French aplier, French appliquer, from Latin applicare to join, fix, or attach to; ad + plicare to fold, to twist together. See Applicant, Ply.

Pronunciation

IPA: WEAE /ʌˈplaɪ/

Transitive Verb

apply; imp. & p.p. Applied; present tense 3^rd person singular Applies

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 betake; to address; to refer;—used reflexively.

   I applied myself to him for help. --Johnson.