Also 5–7 apply-. [a. Fr. application, -acion (14th c.), ad. L. applicātiōn-em, n. of action f. applicāre to APPLY.] The action of applying; the thing applied. Cf. the senses of APPLY.
1. The action of putting a thing to another, of bringing into material or effective contact.
1632. Sanderson, 12 Serm., 278. The fit applycation of the one to the other.
1683. Ray, Corr. (1848), 131. By the application of a lighted candle.
1854. Scoffern, in Orr’s Circ. Sc., Chem. 333. The application of … heat to the bulb.
1879. Thomson & Tait, Nat. Phil., I. I. § 218. The place of application of a force.
b. esp. in Geom. (Cf. APPLY 1 b.)
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Application also signifies the fitting or applying of one quantity to another, whose areas, but not figures, are the same.
2. The putting on or administration of a medicament; the remedial means so applied.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. ii. 74. The rest haue worne me out With seuerall applications.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. iii. 287. Application Of Medicines to th’ Imagination.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., The application of a vesicatory to the neck.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Observ., 131. I began again to try some medicated applications.
1881. Girls’ Own P., 4 June, 571. Rheumatic pains … cured by the application … of spirits of camphor.
3. The bringing of any thing to bear practically upon or affect another. spec. in Theol. in reference to the ‘redemption purchased by Christ.’
1647. Assembly’s Shorter Catech., 2. The effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
1656. Bramhall, Replic., ii. 99. The holy Eucharist is … an application of the all-sufficient propitiatory Sacrifice of the Crosse.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., It is by this application of the merits of Christ, that we are to be justified.
1859. Mill, Liberty, ii. 53. A sufficient application of legal penalties.
4. The putting of any thing to a use or purpose; employment, specific use.
1538. Starkey, England, 8. Wythout applycatyon of hyt to any use or profyt of other.
1737. Waterland, Eucharist, 124. They are … no more common Bread and Wine (at least not during this their sacred Application).
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. 87. The application which is made of the loadstone to navigation.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, v. 68. The application of labour and capital.
b. The employment of a word to express an idea.
1788. Reid, Act. Powers, i. ii. 517. Instances of the application of active verbs to things which we now believe not to be active.
5. The bringing of a law or theory, or of a general or figurative statement, to bear upon a particular case, or upon matters of practice generally; the practical lesson or ‘moral’ of a fable.
1493. Petronylla (Pynson), 129. Make of this mater an applicacion.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, Ded. Application is now growne a trade with many; and there are that professe to haue a key for the decyphering of euery thing.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvi. 143. The application of the Law to the present case.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vii. 349. A fable or a parable, related without any application or moral.
1769. Lett. Junius, i. 10. The facts … are too notorious to require an application.
1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xvi. 190. Christian applications which flow out of this exposition.
1882. A. Macfarlane, Consanguin., 2. I wish to present the method, and some applications.
b. The quality or capacity of being thus practically used; relevancy, valid reference.
1842. H. Rogers, Introd. Burke’s Wks., 85. Matter which … is of universal application.
1854. Faraday, Exp. Res., lv. 473. It has not that generality of application which can make it of any value.
Mod. This has no application to present circumstances.
6. The action of applying one’s self closely to a task; assiduous effort, attention, diligence.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xx. § 12. The tenderness and want of application in some of the most ancient philosophers.
1693. Mem. Count Teckely, III. 84. They had lately block’d up the Place with more Application than ever.
1717. Pope, Lett. to Blount, Wks. 1737, VI. 58. I am obliged … to give up my whole application to Homer.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc., II. 153. Some application to other studies.
1823. Lamb, Elia, II. xxiii. Application for ever so short a time kills me.
b. ellipt. The object of assiduous attention.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist., IV. IX. 182. He made it his sole application to gain their affections.
† 7. Self-adaptation, compliance, deference, obsequiousness. Obs. rare.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iii. § 10. Not that I can tax or condemn the … application of learned men to men in fortune. Ibid. The like applications and stooping to points of necessity.
8. Astr. The action of approaching. ? Obs.
1594. J. Davis, Seamans Secr. (1607), 6. The quantitie of the Moone’s separation and application to and from the Sunne.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., xix. 108. Application is when two Planets are drawing neere together.
1819. J. Wilson, Dict. Astrol., 10. Application is stronger than Separation, either for good or evil.
9. The action of making an appeal (obs.), request, or petition to a person; the appeal or request so made.
1647. Cottrell, Davila’s Hist. Fr. (1678), 8. With pride … slighting the applications of strangers.
1680. Burnet, Rochester (1692), 50. Frequent applications to God in prayer.
a. 1718. Penn, Life, Wks. 1726, I. 74. I have not chosen this Way of Application [by Letter].
1808. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., IV. 63. In answer to various applications which have been made to me.
1883. Law Rep., Queen’s B., 592. An application was made on behalf of the prosecutor for a remand.
10. A kind of needlework; appliqué.
1861. Sala, Tw. round Clock, 191. Cobweb collars … worked in Guipure, or crochet, or application.
