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n the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman. Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt. Sir W. Scott.

rendering plebeian; the act of vulgarizing. [R.] You begin with the attempt to popularize learning . . . but you will end in the plebification of knowledge. Coleridge.

Bent; turn; direction; bias. The late learners can not so well take the ply. Bacon. Boswell, and others of Goldsmith's contemporaries, . . . did not understand the secret plies of his character. W. Irving. The czar's mind had taken a strange ply, which it retained to the last. Macaulay.

mooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a gloss or luster. Another prism of clearer glass and better polish. Sir I. Newton.

One versed in various learning. [R.]

Pertaining to polymathy; acquainted with many branches of learning.

One versed in many sciences; a person of various learning.

The knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning. Johnson.

Old Testament, the gradual development of polytheism from the primitive monotheism may be learned. Shaff-Herzog.

ing; to embarrass by questioning or scrutiny; to bring to a stand. A question wherewith a learned Pharisee thought to pose and puzzle him. Barrow.

Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive declaration or promise. Positive words, that he would not bear arms against King Edward's son. Bacon.

To learn by practice; to form a habit. They shall practice how to live secure. Milton. Practice first over yourself to reign. Waller.

Used habitually; learned by practice.

akin to, Sanskrit; -- in distinction from the Sanskrit, which was used as a literary and learned language when no longer spoken by the people. Pali is one of the Prakrit dialects.

Grass-green; clear, lively green, without any mixture. Lindley.

mature development, especially of the mental powers; forwardness. Saucy precociousness in learning. Bp. Mannyngham. That precocity which sometimes distinguishes uncommon genius. Wirt.

Cleared and ready for engagement, as a ship. Smart.

Unresistingly; openly; hence, clearly; evidently. [Obs.] Shak.

ryman. Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind so far as to despise all other learning. I. Watts

o view; delineation; appearance; representation; exhibition. Power to cheat the eye with blear illusion, And give it false presentment. Milton.