plaything

English

Etymology

From play +‎ thing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpleɪ.θiŋ/
• Rhymes: -eɪθiŋ
• Hyphenation: play‧thing

Noun

plaything (plural playthings)

1. A thing or person intended for playing with.

   Synonym: toy

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, “The generous and grateful Behaviour of Mrs. Miller”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume VI, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XVII, page 97:

     [S]he haſtily retired, taking with her her little Girl, whoſe Eyes were all over blubbered at the melancholy News ſhe heard of Jones, who uſed to call her his little Wife, and not only gave her many Playthings, but ſpent whole Hours in playing with her himſelf.

   • 1856: Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part III Chapter XI, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling

     The next day Charles had the child brought back. She asked for her mamma. They told her she was away; that she would bring her back some playthings.

   • 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 74:

     O Lord of seven skies, whose plaything is the thunder, thou art amongst the gods, what need hast thou for words from any man?

2. A person at the mercy of fate.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXVIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 297:

     We talk of our energies and of our will—we are the mere playthings of subtle and malignant chances.

Translations

something intended for playing with — see toy

Adjective

plaything (not comparable)

1. Used for the purpose of play or amusement.
   • 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter II, in Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 17:

     Like the cards which form a child's plaything palace, our pleasures are nicely balanced one upon the other.