To hold in play

To hold in play
Play Play, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. [1913 Webster]

2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. [1913 Webster]

John naturally loved rough play. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]

3. The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play. [1913 Webster]

4. Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit. ``The next who comes in play.'' --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

5. A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action. [1913 Webster]

A play ought to be a just image of human nature. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

6. The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play. [1913 Webster]

7. Performance on an instrument of music. [1913 Webster]

8. Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action. ``To give them play, front and rear.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

The joints are let exactly into one another, that they have no play between them. --Moxon. [1913 Webster]

9. Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth. [1913 Webster]

{Play actor}, an actor of dramas. --Prynne.

{Play debt}, a gambling debt. --Arbuthnot.

{Play pleasure}, idle amusement. [Obs.] --Bacon.

{A play upon words}, the use of a word in such a way as to be capable of double meaning; punning.

{Play of colors}, prismatic variation of colors.

{To bring into play}, {To come into play}, to bring or come into use or exercise.

{To hold in play}, to keep occupied or employed. [1913 Webster]

I, with two more to help me, Will hold the foe in play. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hold in play — (or archaic hold play) To keep occupied, esp to gain time or detain • • • Main Entry: ↑play …   Useful english dictionary

  • To hold in play — Hold Hold, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Held}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Holding}. {Holden}, p. p., is obs. in elegant writing, though still used in legal language.] [OE. haldan, D. houden, OHG. hoten, Icel. halda, Dan. holde, Sw. h[*a]lla, Goth. haldan to feed,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hold-up play — noun A play where an attacker retains possession of the ball, while the teammates can move up the field …   Wiktionary

  • Play — Play, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. [1913 Webster] 2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. [1913 Webster] John naturally loved rough play. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 3. The act or practice of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Play actor — Play Play, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. [1913 Webster] 2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. [1913 Webster] John naturally loved rough play. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 3. The act or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Play debt — Play Play, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. [1913 Webster] 2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. [1913 Webster] John naturally loved rough play. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 3. The act or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Play of colors — Play Play, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. [1913 Webster] 2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. [1913 Webster] John naturally loved rough play. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 3. The act or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Play pleasure — Play Play, n. 1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols. [1913 Webster] 2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game. [1913 Webster] John naturally loved rough play. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 3. The act or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hold play — hold in play (or archaic hold play) To keep occupied, esp to gain time or detain • • • Main Entry: ↑play …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hold — Hold, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Held}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Holding}. {Holden}, p. p., is obs. in elegant writing, though still used in legal language.] [OE. haldan, D. houden, OHG. hoten, Icel. halda, Dan. holde, Sw. h[*a]lla, Goth. haldan to feed, tend… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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