ply

He plied his trade as carpenter for forty-three years.

He plied his ax with bloody results.

to ply someone with questions or solicitations

to ply someone with drink

to ply the seven seas

[…] Ere halfe theſe Authors be read, which will ſoon be with plying hard, and dayly, they cannot chooſe but be maſters of any ordinary proſe.

Weighed anchor about five morn, and plied till about noon, and then anchored. This day, at morn, went about the general to council: the result was, the fleet should ply near, as with convenience, to the Texel, to prevent a conjunction of those ships there with Admiral [Maarten] Tromp; […]