(a) To play; have fun, enjoy oneself, be merry; be joyful; also, watch games [quot.: c1450(?a1400)]; ?also fig. [quot.: (a1398)]; (b) of animals, birds, fish: to play, frisk, flutter; also, in proverb; -- also in comparison of man and bird; (c) of children: to engage in childish play; -- also used derisively of adults; (d) to make a noise or motion, exult; of a child in the womb: leap for joy; ~ with honde(s, ~ hondes, clap the hands, applaud; (e) ~ with, to play with (sb., an angel, a child, children), disport with, dally with; also, torment (sb.); (f) ~ with, to play with (sth., an animal, animals); dally with (the world), disport with; ~ mid, play with (sth., an animal); ~ therwith, play with it; (g) to take time off, take a vacation; ~ a pilgrimage, go on a pilgrimage for relaxation; (h) to entertain (sb.), amuse, please; of a book: be for enjoyment, be humorous, entertain.

(a) Refl. To disport oneself, amuse oneself, have fun; -- also used of animals; ben gon hem to ~, of one's wits: be absent; (b) refl. ~..with, to play with (sb. or sth.), amuse oneself with, disport with.

(a) To play amorously; make love, engage in sexual intercourse; -- also refl.; ~ game (plei, etc.) make love; (b) ~ with, to play amorously with (sb.); have sexual intercourse with; -- also refl.; ~ game (wille).

(a) To play a game, play, gamble; also fig. [quot.: (a1449)]; (b) ~ a game; to play a game; ~ games (buk-hide, etc.), play games (blindman's buff, etc.); ~ abobbed (sitisot) [see also abobbed ppl., sitisot n.]; (c) ~ at games; ~ at hasard (tables, etc.); ~ at (the) ches (des); ~ at the cheker (mereles, etc.); ~ with des; ~..at the des, to play (one's part) by gambling, play a risky game; (d) to use (sth.) as a stake in a game; ~ with, hazard (one's soul); (e) ppl. pleiinge, as noun: playing.

(a) To play martial or athletic games; joust, fight; also, fight playfully [quot.: PPl.B]; also refl. fight each other, joust; (b) pleiing thede, ?sporting or hunting folk; ~ sword, a practice sword; ~ at (the) bal, ~ game; ~ bal under fot, to be trampled; fig. be humbled; ~ at the bokeler, ~ at sword, fence; ~ in the feld(es, ~ at the paume, ~ at tenis; etc.; (c) ~ with, to contend with (sb. or sth.), fight against; also, use (a weapon); ~ with the falling turn [see falling ppl. 2. (f)]; ~ with repentailles, fight with repentance, regret having fought; (d) ~ a pleie, to fight a fight; ~ his pleie, do martial deeds, fight; also, finish his act, finish his fight; (e) ~ bal-of, to lose one's head.

(a) To make light or frivolous talk, jest, joke; ~ with wordes, boast; in pleiinge wise, jestingly; (b) to make sport, tease; ~ of, make fun of (sth.); ~ upon, ridicule (sb.).

(a) To act in a play; also, gesture; ~ toforen, gesture to (sb.); (b) to enact (a scene or event); perform (a play or pageant); play (a character or role); also fig.; ~ an after-cast, enact a plan made too late; ~ apparaunces, create illusions; ~ his miracles, reenact the miracles of Christ; ~..pagent(es, play (one's) role, do (one's) part; ~ parcel, play a role; (c) to act like a type of character or animal; ~ the brethel (fol, fals shreue, galaunt, tiraunt, etc.); ~ (the) lioun, fight fiercely; ~ jakke the hare, pursue something aimlessly, waste time; (d) to pretend; also, play (a trick); ~ siker, pretend to be certain; ~ a cast, play a trick; pleiinge bisinesse, feigned solicitude, doting care; (e) to behave; ~ faire, play fair, be nice; ~ par assent (in fere), act willingly together or in concert.

(a) To perform; ~ biforen, entertain (sb.); (b) to make music, play; also, play (music, songs, etc.); fig. ~ an other gle, sing another tune; ~ at (on, upon), play on (an instrument); (c) to dance (a dance); of the sun: hang, dance.

(a) To ply a trade; apply (a craft), employ, ply; ~ with, use (a tool); also refl. ~ me with, employ myself with (sth.), cultivate a virtue; (b) to deal with (sth.), handle.

(a) To boil (sth.); of liquid, a pot of liquid, or something in a pot of liquid: boil rapidly, boil; ~ over, boil over; ~ up, let (sth.) boil vigorously; also, let (sth.) boil with an added ingredient; (b) ~ on, to rush on (somebody's head), surge around.