Middle English Dictionary Entry
ap(p)līen v.
Entry Info
Forms | ap(p)līen v. |
Etymology | OF aplier, aploier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To join or combine (with); attach (to sth.); adhere; ~ aright, to fit properly; -- with to phrase; (b) to gather, assemble (members of a group); (c) to include (in a set); (d) med. apply (a lotion).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.11.34 : Ful many shuln be applied, or putt to, to hem gylfully.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)1155 : Gouerne and applye..Vs to heore cumpaygnye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)48a/b : His [a frog's] tonge is aplyed to þe mouþ tofore, & þat partie of þe tonge þat is nyȝ þe pipe of þe longen is vntied, & þerfore he haþ propir voys.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)297b/b : [The leech]..applieþ and setteþ himself soone to a membre for to souke.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)321/28 : [When a bone is bent not broken] leie a plate of yuer in þat side þat þe boon is aplied.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)123b/a : Deþ haþ applied his baner to þe heued.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2357 : Nothyng is to conquest mor applied Than trewe accord among your-silff to shewe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.694 : Euery vice to othir doth applie.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)13 : Applyyn: Applico, oppono.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6334 : Yif yt [a ring] sholde aryght aplye Vpon a fynger Iust to sytte..Yt may nat be to streyt nor large.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)125 : In lasse..thilke cleer treuthe be coupled and applied in the undirstonding of the man to the derke trouthe.
b
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 10.20 : Samuel appliede [WB(2): settide to gidere] alle the lynagis of Yrael.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Num.16.5 : The Lord schal..applie to hym hooli men; and thei whiche he hath chose, schulen neiȝe to hym.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.577 : Ther ben yet of an other forme Of dedly vices sevene applied, Wherof the herte is ofte plied.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)25b/a : Water & acete medled in fourme potable & with a sponge applied.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)27b/b : Take þe whytes of eyren..& be þay applyed i. laide to wiþ herdes & clowtes.
2.
(a) To use or employ (sth. for a certain purpose); also, to be of use (to sb. or for a purpose), be suitable or agreeable; (b) to allot (sth. to a person, etc.); ~ to the use of, put at the disposal of; (c) to impose or inflict (on sb.); to afflict (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (?c1400) Wycl.7 Heresies (Dc 274)441 : God hym selfe heris hit, and applies þis prayere to profite of þe man.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2223 : For nothyng eke they tunge applye To speke wordis of rebaudrye.
- (1431) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)25.1235 : The double leway of payment Wherof a part shuld be applied to the werk of Poules and the tother part to the Chambre of the Gildhalle.
- (1439) RParl.5.32a : Where it liketh you..for the defense of this your noble Reaume, to applie and dispende divers notables sommes of the Revenues of youre Corone.
- (1442) RParl.5.62a : Fees, Wages, Annuites..shold be ordeyned, applied and emploied to the dispensez of your said Houshold.
- (1442) RParl.5.63a : Your seid Communes have praied your Highnesse..to applie divers othyr grete and notables parcelles and sommes of your possessions and revenues for the seid paiement.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)27.141 : Nasciens..hadde..wenges that lyhtly wolde folde and Aplyen to his flyht thanne.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)33.296 : The vois..behotyth hem Al Manere of delicasye That to ony Mannes wyt May Applye.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)388/11 : For her dulnesse, þey kowde not alle þe forseyde techynge applye to þe entente þat is seyde.
- (a1460) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.p.lvi : Hit shuld be apployed and redy to be payed for such lyvelod.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)433 : Bachilers..Applied ar to shote in bowes longe With arowys.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)669 : Thi legyaunt..To multiplie Is right, but aydauntys a fewe applie.
- a1525(?1426) Cov.Leet Bk.108 : Þat hit [the murage] apployed to þe Towne wall and no otherwyse.
b
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)22 : Such a preest wole..applie tho [funds] to riche prestis or ipocritis religious, that han more than nedith to hem.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.SPuer(1) (LdMisc 683)46 : The beste morcellis..Hooll to thyselff alway do nat applye; Parte with thy ffelawe, for that is cortesie.
- a1525(?1456) Cov.Leet Bk.294 : Þe other half..to the vse of þis Cite to be apploied.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5165 : A ful fals amerous pestilence..Wherbi, allas, my manhod was applied, Be sleihte off women oppressid & maistried.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.590 : The moo peynes þou aplyest to me, The more my Ioye encresseth.
3.
(a) To apply (an expression to sth.); ~ name, to name; ~ wordes, termes, describe; (b) to apply (a statement) as suitable or appropriate; express (an opinion); (c) to apply (an allegory to a specific instance); (d) to attribute (a quality, an achievement to sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.913 : A Sterre upon the Sky He [Mars] hath unto his name applied.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4775 : I wante konnynge my termys to aplie.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.68 : Þus applieþ Crist hise wordis and seiþ þat Goddis rewme shal be taken fro hem.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)162 : Þerfor þe cherch applieth þis langage on to martires, seying þat..þei are worthi þe palma, þat is to sey to be clepid uictores.
b
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)3/5 : Som demed it..for to be incurable; oþer applied doutful opinions.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)44/5 : Þe which psalme may be applyed to Judas.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)13/29 : To þe facundite þer-of mow welle been applyed þese verse of Virgyle.
c
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)4 : Allegories and moralizacions, applied and moralized to actis and dedys of werkyng spirituell.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)28 : Now lete vs sette an allegorie applyyng to owre purpose to the vii dedely synnys.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2607 : Hermes..To whom this art [alchemy] is most applied.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)329/25 : Wisdam is proprelye applyede to þe sone.
4.
(a) To go (in the direction of, or to, a place); of a ship: to steer or ply (a certain course); (b) of a ship or someone traveling by ship: to land (at a certain place), disembark (into a land).
Associated quotations
a
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1073 : To the port of Brundusye they dede applye.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)21.41 : Whanne this schip to þe Roche gan Aplye.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)28.45 : A lytel thing..he say Comen..streyht to the yl it gan Aplye.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)42.128 : To theke Contre he wolde don hem Aplye, where that Iosephes and Owre felawes be.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.3.42 : The oost appliede, or londide, at the coostis of hem.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20825 : Arthur þas daies applie was sene In ane of þe hafenes norwegiene.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.62/26 : A mane commynge home..with his shippe, chargid with wyne And applied at Londone.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)11.428 (v.1:p.118) : Whan the counseil was fynysshid .. Thomas .. applied into Ingelonde and was received of the kyng.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)91.10 (v.2:p.110) : Thei arrived in an yle clepid Tenedos .. whider whan thei were applied, Austyn sent worde to Kyng Ethelbert in Caunterbury that they were commen.
5.
(a) To strive or undertake (to do sth.); seek to achieve (sth.); to attain (to a certain state); (b) apply (one's faculties to a task or pursuit); (c) refl. devote oneself (to sth.); (d) attend to or perform (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.14 : The moevynge of the resoun of mankynde ne may nat..applien or joignen to the simplicite of the devyne prescience.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.3955 : Afftir this stori Bochas gan applie To turne his penne..To write & tell the froward lecherie [etc.].
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18315 : A camell may hym-silffe applye To passen thorugh a nedelyes eye.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)3478 : Guy gan to ryde, And the Sarasyns deth sore he appliede.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3011 : For þei her wit fynally applye To swe her lust & lyue in glotonye.
- (1447) Shillingford28 : That ye woll applie your blessed favour and benyvolence to the gode ende and appeasynge of this mater.
- c1456(a1449) Lydg.Epistle Sibille (Ashm 59)25 : Alle þeo þat beon intentyffe, In diligence þeire wittes to applye.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)283/1 : A man maye not applye his witte bothe atoones to vertues and to vyces.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)2110 : That ye to God sholde hool aplye Your hertys.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)474 : And so, supposen we þat þes prestis han betere wit þan seculer lordis, applye þey þis betere wit in betere vse to serue god.
c
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)198 : To hire organes she aplyeth hire and deliteth hire to the melodye.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)13/22 : That thei shulde eschewe the euell deedis and applie hemself to the goode dedis.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.200 : I schal aplye me to fulfyll your intent.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.902 : Who applieth hym to be fals and fekell, His clymbyng is full slepre and ticle.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.33.27b : As he will that it be don, we schal applie vs fully withowt ony geyn sayng.
d
- (?c1400) Wycl.7 Heresies (Dc 274)441 : Fals men..say..þat speciale prayere aplied by hor prelatis is better þen generale.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.284 : My maister, your husbond, wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be not applied.
6.
To comply (with an agreement or request), submit (to certain conditions); obey.
Associated quotations
- (1419) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)80/6 : He wolde naught applie nor accorde to right and reson.
- (c1438) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.156 : Thys seyde Steven Cole wolde neuer a plye to the seyde condycion.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)86/12 : Þerwith þe wil is redi and applied to folewe þe doom of resoun.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)74/84 : The fyrst degre gostly applyed, It is holy desyre with god to be.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1168 : Yf he woll be obstinate and not applye, No merveille thoughe merci doo fro hym wrye.
- a1500(a1470) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)125 : Ye, of wilfulnesse..not havyng regarde unto the said contract, wol not applie you, ne condescende, unto the said mariage.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)747 : Oh thu largyfluent Lord..Onto owr prayers thow hast applyed: Thu hast receyuyd them with grett swettnesse.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)485 : Oon there ys that wyll nat apply Vnto my correccion, nor in no wyse bowe To the dynt of my dart.