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. [ 1913 Webster ]
He said, and the sword his throat applied. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Yet God at last
To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention; to attach; to incline. [ 1913 Webster ]
Apply thine heart unto instruction. Prov. xxiii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]
5. To direct or address. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Sacred vows . . . applied to grisly Pluto. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
6. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively. [ 1913 Webster ]
I applied myself to him for help. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]
7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
She was skillful in applying his “humors.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]
8. To visit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
And he applied each place so fast. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]
Applied chemistry. See under Chemistry. --
Applied mathematics. See under Mathematics. [ 1913 Webster ]