to play upon

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Play \Play\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Played; p. pr. & vb. n. Playing.] [OE. pleien, AS. plegian, plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G. pflegen; of unknown origin. [root]28. Cf. Plight, n.]

1.To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot. [1913 Webster]

As Cannace was playing in her walk.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play!— Pope.[1913 Webster]

And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword.— Keble.[1913 Webster]

2.To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless. [1913 Webster]

"Nay," quod this monk, "I have no lust to pleye."— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

Men are apt to play with their healths.— Sir W. Temple.[1913 Webster]

3.To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes. [1913 Webster]

4.To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute. [1913 Webster]

One that . . . can play well on an instrument.— Ezek. xxxiii. 32.[1913 Webster]

Play, my friend, and charm the charmer.— Granville.[1913 Webster]

5.To act; to behave; to practice deception. [1913 Webster]

His mother played false with a smith.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

6.To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays. [1913 Webster]

The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play.— Cheyne.[1913 Webster]

7.To move gayly; to wanton; to disport. [1913 Webster]

Even as the waving sedges play with wind.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

The setting sun Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets.— Addison.[1913 Webster]

All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

8.To act on the stage; to personate a character. [1913 Webster]

A lord will hear your play to-night.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Courts are theaters where some men play.— Donne.[1913 Webster]

To play into a person's hands, to act, or to manage matters, to his advantage or benefit.

To play off, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice.

To play upon. (a) To make sport of; to deceive. [1913 Webster]

Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (b) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as, to play upon words. [1913 Webster]