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Origin and history of applied

applied(adj.)

"put to practical use," (as opposed to abstract or theoretical), 1650s, from past participle of apply. Earlier it was used in a sense of "folded" (c. 1500).

also from 1650s

Entries linking to applied

apply(v.)

late 14c., "join or combine (with); attach (to something), adhere," from Old French aploiier "apply, use, attach" (12c., Modern French appliquer), from Latin applicare "attach to, join, connect;" figuratively, "devote (oneself) to, give attention," from ad "to" (see ad-) + plicare "fold" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait").

The etymological sense is "bring things in contact with one another." In English, from c. 1400 as "use or employ" something for a certain purpose." From early 15c. in reference to lotions, plasters, etc., "place in contact with the body," also, of one's mental powers or faculties, "put to work at a task or pursuit." The meaning "seek a job by submitting an application for one" is from 1851. A by-form applicate is recorded from 1530s. Related: Applied; applying.

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    theoretical
    1610s, "contemplative," with -al (1) + Late Latin theoreticus "of or pertaining to theory," from Greek theoretikos "contemplative, speculative, pertaining to theory" (by Aristotle contrasted to praktikos), from theoretos "that may be seen or considered," from theorein "to conside
    mahatma
    title applied to an adept in Brahmanism, literally "great-souled," from Sanskrit mahatman, from maha "great" (from PIE root...Said to have been applied to Gandhi (1869-1948) in 1915, perhaps by poet Rabrindranath Tagore....The earliest use of the word in English, however, is among the theosophists, who applied it to certain imaginary beings with...
    meeting
    In 17c., in England and Ireland it was applied generally to worship assemblies of nonconformists, but this now is retained...In the early U.S., especially in rural districts, it was applied to any assemblage for religious worship....
    Anasazi
    Name applied by their Navajo neighbors to modern Pueblo peoples of the U.S. southwest, and to various landscape features...Said to first have been applied to the ancient Pueblo ruins of southwestern United States in the Mesa Verde region c. 1889...
    Indies
    Commonly applied to Asia and the East generally; later in a time of geographical confusion, it was applied to the Caribbean...
    Idaho
    1861 as a place name, originally applied by U.S....said at the time to mean "Gem of the Mountains" but probably rather from Kiowa-Apache (Athabaskan) idaahe "enemy," a name applied...
    dolly
    From 1790 as "a child's doll;" applied from 1792 to any contrivance fancied to resemble a dolly in some sense, especially...Compare jack, jenny, jimmy, etc., generic proper names applied to various mechanical contrivances....
    address
    early 14c., "to guide, aim, or direct," from Old French adrecier "go straight toward; straighten, set right; point, direct" (13c.), from Vulgar Latin *addirectiare "make straight" (source also of Spanish aderezar, Italian addirizzare), from ad "to" (see ad-) + *directiare "make s
    enjoy
    late 14c., "rejoice, be glad" (intransitive), from stem of Old French enjoir "to give joy, rejoice, take delight in," from en- "make" (see en- (1)) + joir "enjoy," from Latin gaudere "rejoice" (see joy); Sense of "have the use or benefit of" first recorded early 15c. (replacing O
    defy
    c. 1300, defien, "to renounce one's allegiance;" mid-14c., "to challenge to fight, dare to meet in combat;" from Old French defier, desfier "to challenge, defy, provoke; renounce (a belief), repudiate (a vow, etc.)," from Vulgar Latin *disfidare "renounce one's faith" (in Medieva

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