ply — to work steadily and persistently at something
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to work steadily and persistently at something
Pronunciation (IPA): /plaɪ/
Example Sentences
- The bartender plied the lonely customer with free peanuts and sympathetic ears.
- Taxi drivers ply the busy streets looking for passengers.
- My grandmother plied me with so much food that I couldn't move for an hour.
ply
NOUN[/plaɪ/]
to work steadily and persistently at something
The old ferryman continues to ply the river, rowing tourists across at dawn.
Ply your craft to make dreams fly across the sky!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Ply derives from Middle English 'plien', meaning 'to bend' or 'to fold'. Over time, the sense evolved from the physical action of folding to mean 'to work steadily' or 'to apply oneself persistently', and later 'to supply or offer continuously'.
Breakdown
The word stems from Middle English 'plien' (to bend, fold), which developed the extended sense of steady, repetitive application of effort, resulting in the modern meaning of persistent work or continuous provision.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The bartender plied the lonely customer with free peanuts and sympathetic ears.”
“Taxi drivers ply the busy streets looking for passengers.”
“My grandmother plied me with so much food that I couldn't move for an hour.”
“The detective plied the suspect with coffee and donuts before questioning.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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