Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ply (-ing, plied, plies), v. [ME plye, apply.] (webplay: busy, closely, lie, timbers).

1. Use; put to work; employ; busy; make useful; engage in service.
2. Work; labor; toil; persevere; persist; [fig.] dig.
3. Bustle; clamber; scramble; move about busily; [fig.] move; fly.
4. [Fig.] occur; happen; take place; proceed; continue. 1494/excl. The competitions of the sky / Corrodeless ply.