play English · revision 1796

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)|origins=gmw-pro *plegan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pleɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|pleien]], [[m|enm|playen]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|plegian]], [[m|ang|plegan|t=to move lightly and quickly, exercise oneself, amuse oneself; to perform music]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and the noun is from Old English [[m|ang|plega|t=quick motion, exercise, recreation]] (Anglian [[m|ang|plæga]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) Both go back to [[gmw-pro|*plegan]], of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Partridge 1966) The verb is related to [[dum|pleien|t=to dance, leap for joy, rejoice]],^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)^(MW Collegiate) and perhaps to [[m|dum|pleghen|t=to attend to, practise]], [[osx|plegan|t=to vouch for, take charge of]] and [[goh|pflegan|t=to tend, attend to]] (modern [[de|pflegen]]);^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline and Klein connect it with the root of [[plight]], though the phonetic development is hard to explain,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) while Skeat follows Franck in denying the link.^(Skeat 1911) The Anglian forms plahe, plawe left no descendants in modern English.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, brisk movement, exercise; recreation (about 725, in ''Beowulf'');^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) as a verb, to exercise or busy oneself, and to clap the hands (825).^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English ''plegian'' had a general sense of brisk activity, without special reference to either business or amusement, but most of the main modern senses are already found in Old English.^(Weekley 1921) The idea of “brisk movement” survives in [[swordplay]] (Old English ''sweordplega'') and [[gunplay]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) By early Middle English the noun could mean a game, a martial sport, children's activity, jesting, revelry or sexual indulgence.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb meant “to take part in a game” from about 1200, and was opposed to “work” from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) when it also came to mean “to act on the stage”, “to take the role of” and “to pretend”.^(Etymonline) The noun “a dramatic performance” is attested by the early 14th century^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and “a literary work for the stage” from 1440.^(HTOED) Of chess pieces the verb dates from the 1560s and of cards from the 1640s or 1670s;^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) of fountains and guns, “to operate continuously”, from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) The sense “free movement, scope” (as in ''play'' in a mechanism) is from the 1640s,^(HTOED)^(Etymonline) ''play on words'' from 1798,^(Etymonline) ''playing a recording'' from 1903,^(Etymonline) and the American slang “attention, publicity” from 1929.^(Etymonline) A ''playboy'' was first, in 1616, a boy actor; the modern sense began in Ireland in the 1820s.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''plega'', brisk movement, recreation.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 825 – ''plegian'', to clap the hands.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – to take part in a game.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – a dramatic performance.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1340 – to gamble.^(HTOED)

+ * late 14th century – to act on stage; to pretend.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1440 – a play as a literary work.^(HTOED)

+ * 1560s – to move a chess piece.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED)

+ * 1590s – to operate continuously, of a fountain or gun.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED)

+ * 1599 – action, operation, as in ''the play of fancy''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1641 – to lay down a card; scope, free action.^(HTOED)

+ * 1798 – ''play on words''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1903 – to play a recording.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1929 – publicity (US slang).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To occupy oneself in [[amusement]], sport or other recreation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # To take part in (a game or sport); to compete against: ''played Misha at chess''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To act in jest; to behave carelessly or frivolously; to [[trifle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To act (a role) in a dramatic performance; to pretend to be: ''play the fool''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To perform on (a musical instrument); to perform (music); to cause (a recording) to sound.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of a play or film, to be performed or shown.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # To move or use (a card, piece or ball) in a game.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # To move lightly or irregularly: ''sunlight playing on the water''.^(MW Collegiate)^(HTOED)

+ # To direct (a hose or light) on something; of a fountain, to send out water.^(HTOED)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To [[gamble]].^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A literary work written for performance on the stage; a [[drama]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # Activity for enjoyment, especially by children; fun or jest.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # The conduct of a game; a move or manoeuvre in it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Free or unimpeded movement, as in a mechanism.^(AHD)^(HTOED)^(Etymonline)

+ # Light, quick or fitful movement: ''the play of light''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Action, operation: ''come into play''.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(informal, US)'' Publicity, attention.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[playability]]

+ * [[playable]]

+ * [[playingly]]

+ * [[playless]]

+ * [[playlike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plight]]

+ * [[player]]

+ * [[playful]]

+ * [[playwright]]

+ * [[playboy]]

+ * [[swordplay]]

+ * [[gunplay]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House distinguishes ''play'', the general word for any diverting activity, often undirected or spontaneous, from ''game'', a recreational contest usually governed by rules, and ''sport'', usually an outdoor athletic activity.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}