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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

play

/pleɪ̯/ [pɫ̥eɪ̯ ~ pʰɫeɪ̯]
To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.

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    Origin

    From Middle English pleyen (verb) and Middle English pleye (noun), from Old English plegian and plegan, plagian (“to play, exercise, etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *plehan (“to care about, be concerned with”) and Proto-West Germanic *plegōn (“to engage, move”), of uncertain origin.

    cognates and related terms

    Cognate with Scots play (“to act or move briskly, cause to move, stir”), Saterland Frisian pleegje (“to look after, care for, maintain”), West Frisian pleegje, pliigje (“to commit, perform, bedrive”), Middle Dutch pleyen ("to dance, leap for joy, rejoice, be glad"; compare Modern Dutch pleien (“to play a particular children's game”)), Dutch plegen (“to commit, bedrive, practice”), German pflegen (“to care for, be concerned with, attend to, tend”). Related also to Old English plēon (“to risk, endanger”). More at plight, pledge.

    The noun is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, plega, plæġa (“play, quick motion, movement, exercise; (athletic) sport, game; festivity, drama; battle; gear for games, an implement for a game; clapping with the hands, applause”), deverbative of plegian (“to play”); see above.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishpleyen
      • inheritedOld Englishpleġan
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*plehan
      • inheritedOld Englishplegian “to move about quickly, play”
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*plegōn
          • partProto-West Germanic*plegō
          • partProto-West Germanic*-ōn
            • inheritedProto-Germanic*-ōną
              • inheritedProto-Indo-European*-eh₂yéti
              • inheritedProto-Indo-European*-h₂ti
    • inheritedMiddle Englishpleye
      • inheritedOld Englishplega “game”

    Related: Scots play, Saterland Frisian pleegje, West Frisian pleegje, Middle Dutch pleyen, Dutch pleien, Dutch plegen, German pflegen, Old English plēon

    Words built on it: by-play, playing, play house, play number two, play-by-play

    Meanings

    verb
    1. To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
    2. To toy or trifle; to act with levity or thoughtlessness; to be careless.
    3. To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
    4. Specifying a particular sporting role or position.
    5. To compete against, in a game.
    6. To be the opposing score to.
    noun
    1. Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
    2. Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
    3. The conduct, or course, of a game.
    4. The sphere or circumstance in which a playing implement, such as a ball, is played or available to be played (see also in play, out of play).
    5. An individual's performance in a sport or game.
    6. A short sequence of action within a game.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: play