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apply¹

  • /əˈplaɪ/
  • [əˈplaɪ] UK, US
  • [əˈplɑj] British, Southern, Standard
  • [əˈplaɪ] Canada
  • [əˈpləj] dialectal
  • [əˈplɑɪ] Australia

Rhymes with -aɪ

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd

Proto-Italic *ad

Proto-Italic *ad-

Latin ad-

Proto-Indo-European *pel-

Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der.

Latin plicō

Latin applicō

Old French applierbor.

Middle English aplien

English apply

Inherited from Middle English aplien, borrowed from Old French applier, from Latin applicō, from ad- + plicō (“fold; arrive”). See applicant, ply.

verb applies · applying · applied

  1. transitive To lay or place; to put (one thing to another) to apply cream to a rash
  2. transitive To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case to apply funds to the repayment of a debt
  3. transitive To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant. We need to apply the skills we’ve learned to solve this problem.
  4. transitive To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently or with attention. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
  5. reflexive To work diligently and attentively. My parents say I could do well in school if I would apply myself.
  6. reflexive, transitive, usually To address oneself; to refer. sacred vows […] applied to grisly Pluto
  7. intransitive To submit oneself as a candidate (with the adposition "to" or "at" designating the recipient of the submission, and the adposition "for" designating the position). I recently applied to the tavern for a job as a bartender.
  8. intransitive To pertain or be relevant. That rule only applies to foreigners.
  9. obsolete To busy; to keep at work; to ply. She was no less skillful in applying his humours.
  10. obsolete To visit. His armour was so clear, And he applied each place so fast, that like a lightning thrown Out of the shield of Jupiter, in every eye he shone.

apply²

  • /ˈæp(ə)li/

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₂ébōl

Proto-Germanic *aplaz

Proto-West Germanic *applu

Old English æppel

Middle English appel

English apple

Proto-Indo-European *-kos

Proto-Germanic *-gaz

Proto-West Germanic *-g

Old English -iġ

Middle English -y

English -y

English apply

From apple + -y.

adjective more apply · most apply

  1. alternative Alternative spelling of appley.appley

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