Chapter Plathelminth to Play of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.

As Cannace was playing in her walk.

Chaucer.

The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day,
Had he thy reason, would he skip and play!

Pope.

And some, the darlings of their Lord,
Play smiling with the flame and sword.

Keble.

2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.

"Nay," quod this monk, "I have no lust to pleye."

Chaucer.

Men are apt to play with their healths.

Sir W. Temple.

3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.

4. To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.

One that . . . can play well on an instrument.

Ezek. xxxiii. 32.

Play, my friend, and charm the charmer.

Granville.

5. To act; to behave; to practice deception.

His mother played false with a smith.

Shak.

6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.

The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play.

Cheyne.

7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.

Even as the waving sedges play with wind.

Shak.

The setting sun
Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets.

Addison.

All fame is foreign but of true desert,
Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.

Pope.

8. To act on the stage; to personate a character.

A lord will hear your play to- night.

Shak.

Courts are theaters where some men play.

Donne.

To play into a person's hands, to act, or to manage matters, to his advantage or benefit. — To play off, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice. — To play upon. (a) To make sport of; to deceive.

Art thou alive?
Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight.

Shak.

(b) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as, to play upon words.

Play
(Play), v. t.

1. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.

First Peace and Silence all disputes control,
Then Order plays the soul.

Herbert.