Ply (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plying (?).] [OE. plien, F. plier to fold, to bend, fr. L. plicare; akin to Gr. &unr_;, G. flechten. Cf. Apply, Complex, Display, Duplicity, Employ, Exploit, Implicate, Plait, Pliant, Flax.] 1. To bend. [Obs.]
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As men may warm wax with handes plie. Chaucer.
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2. To lay on closely, or in folds; to work upon steadily, or with repeated acts; to press upon; to urge importunately; as, to ply one with questions, with solicitations, or with drink.
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And plies him with redoubled strokes Dryden.
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He plies the duke at morning and at night. Shak.
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3. To employ diligently; to use steadily.
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Go ply thy needle; meddle not. Shak.
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4. To practice or perform with diligence; to work at.
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Their bloody task, unwearied, still they ply. Waller.
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Ply, n. [Cf. F. pli, fr. plier. See Ply, v.] 1. A fold; a plait; a turn or twist, as of a cord. Arbuthnot.
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2. Bent; turn; direction; bias.
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The late learners can not so well take the ply. Bacon.
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Boswell, and others of Goldsmith's contemporaries, . . . did not understand the secret plies of his character. W. Irving.
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The czar's mind had taken a strange ply, which it retained to the last. Macaulay.
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&hand_; Ply is used in composition to designate folds, or the number of webs interwoven; as, a three-ply carpet.
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