play vs wager

play

verb
  • To gamble. 

  • To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless. 

  • Contrary to fact, to give an appearance of being. 

  • To be performed; (or of a film) to be shown. 

  • To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone. 

  • To move to and fro. 

  • To produce music (or a specified song or musical style) using (a specified musical instrument). 

  • To compete against, in a game. 

  • To act; to behave; to practice deception. 

  • To perform in or at; to give performances in or at. 

  • To produce music using a musical instrument. 

  • To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate. 

  • To take part in amorous activity; to make love. 

  • To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game). 

  • To kid; to joke; say something for amusement. 

  • (in the scoring of games and sports) To be the opposing score to. 

  • To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance. 

  • To produce music. 

  • To act or perform (a play). 

  • To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute. 

  • To put in action or motion. 

  • To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it. 

  • To use a device to watch or listen to the indicated recording. 

  • To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. 

noun
  • A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources. 

  • An instance of watching or listening to digital media. 

  • The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely, as for example lash, backlash, or slack. 

  • Movement (of a pattern of light etc.) 

  • An individual's performance in a sport or game. 

  • A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue. 

  • A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played. 

  • Activity for amusement only, especially among the young. 

  • Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills. 

  • An attempt to move forward, as in a plan or strategy, for example by a business, investor, or political party. 

  • Sexual activity or sexual role-playing. 

  • The conduct, or course, of a game. 

  • A short sequence of action within a game. 

  • An action carried out when it is one's turn to play. 

  • A theatrical performance featuring actors. 

wager

verb
  • To bet something; to put it up as collateral. 

  • To suppose; to dare say. 

noun
  • Something deposited, laid, or hazarded on the event of a contest or an unsettled question; a bet; a stake; a pledge. 

  • An offer to make oath. 

  • A contract by which two parties or more agree that a certain sum of money, or other thing, shall be paid or delivered to one of them, on the happening or not happening of an uncertain event. 

  • That on which bets are laid; the subject of a bet. 

How often have the words play and wager occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )