English
apply
Apply comes from Latin applicō ‘to apply’, from plicō ‘fold’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pleḱ-‘to fold’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEplicō‘fold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEapplicō‘to apply’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400applier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500aplien
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1587apply
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pleḱ-‘to fold’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEplicō‘fold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEapplicō‘to apply’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400applier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500aplien
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1587apply
Earliest quotation: a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., (please specify the folio): “She was no less skillful in applying his humours.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- ‘to fold, plait, weave’
complex, fiasco, replication, flax, flack, plexus, flagon, 33 more
through Latin plicō ‘fold’
display, employment, reply, explicit, employ, exploitation, exploit, deploy, replica, implicit, imply, complication, complicate, accomplice, inexplicable, ploy, complicity, implicate, pliable, ply, supple, supplication, triplicate, explication, pliant, splay, 21 more
Today it means
verb To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- / apply