diff --git a/src/apply.xsl b/src/apply.xsl
index d96db5f..fc184c6 100644
--- a/src/apply.xsl
+++ b/src/apply.xsl
@@ -34,15 +34,12 @@
 
 
 <function name="f:apply">
-  <param name="fnref" as="element(f:ref)" />
+  <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply" />
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref, () )" />
 </function>
 
 
-<!-- WARNING: inconsistent state: only `f:apply#{1,2}' support partial
-     application at the moment -->
-
 <function name="f:apply">
   <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
   <param name="arg1" />
@@ -56,63 +53,50 @@
   <param name="arg1" />
   <param name="arg2" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply">
-    <with-param name="arg1" select="$arg1" />
-    <with-param name="arg2" select="$arg2" />
-  </apply-templates>
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref,
+                               ($arg1, $arg2) )" />
 </function>
 
 
 <function name="f:apply">
-  <param name="fnref" as="element(f:ref)" />
+  <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
   <param name="arg1" />
   <param name="arg2" />
   <param name="arg3" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply">
-    <with-param name="arg1" select="$arg1" />
-    <with-param name="arg2" select="$arg2" />
-    <with-param name="arg3" select="$arg3" />
-  </apply-templates>
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref,
+                               ($arg1, $arg2, $arg3) )" />
 </function>
 
 
 <function name="f:apply">
-  <param name="fnref" as="element(f:ref)" />
+  <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
   <param name="arg1" />
   <param name="arg2" />
   <param name="arg3" />
   <param name="arg4" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply">
-    <with-param name="arg1" select="$arg1" />
-    <with-param name="arg2" select="$arg2" />
-    <with-param name="arg3" select="$arg3" />
-    <with-param name="arg4" select="$arg4" />
-  </apply-templates>
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref,
+                               ($arg1, $arg2, $arg3, $arg4) )" />
 </function>
 
 
 <function name="f:apply">
-  <param name="fnref" as="element(f:ref)" />
+  <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
   <param name="arg1" />
   <param name="arg2" />
   <param name="arg3" />
   <param name="arg4" />
   <param name="arg5" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply">
-    <with-param name="arg1" select="$arg1" />
-    <with-param name="arg2" select="$arg2" />
-    <with-param name="arg3" select="$arg3" />
-    <with-param name="arg4" select="$arg4" />
-    <with-param name="arg5" select="$arg5" />
-  </apply-templates>
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref,
+                               ($arg1, $arg2, $arg3, $arg4,
+                                $arg5) )" />
 </function>
 
 
 <function name="f:apply">
-  <param name="fnref" as="element(f:ref)" />
+  <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
   <param name="arg1" />
   <param name="arg2" />
   <param name="arg3" />
@@ -120,19 +104,14 @@
   <param name="arg5" />
   <param name="arg6" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply">
-    <with-param name="arg1" select="$arg1" />
-    <with-param name="arg2" select="$arg2" />
-    <with-param name="arg3" select="$arg3" />
-    <with-param name="arg4" select="$arg4" />
-    <with-param name="arg5" select="$arg5" />
-    <with-param name="arg6" select="$arg6" />
-  </apply-templates>
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref,
+                               ($arg1, $arg2, $arg3, $arg4,
+                                $arg5, $arg6) )" />
 </function>
 
 
 <function name="f:apply">
-  <param name="fnref" as="element(f:ref)" />
+  <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
   <param name="arg1" />
   <param name="arg2" />
   <param name="arg3" />
@@ -141,20 +120,14 @@
   <param name="arg6" />
   <param name="arg7" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply">
-    <with-param name="arg1" select="$arg1" />
-    <with-param name="arg2" select="$arg2" />
-    <with-param name="arg3" select="$arg3" />
-    <with-param name="arg4" select="$arg4" />
-    <with-param name="arg5" select="$arg5" />
-    <with-param name="arg6" select="$arg6" />
-    <with-param name="arg7" select="$arg7" />
-  </apply-templates>
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref,
+                               ($arg1, $arg2, $arg3, $arg4,
+                                $arg5, $arg6, $arg7) )" />
 </function>
 
 
 <function name="f:apply">
-  <param name="fnref" as="element(f:ref)" />
+  <param name="fnref" as="item()+" />
   <param name="arg1" />
   <param name="arg2" />
   <param name="arg3" />
@@ -164,16 +137,9 @@
   <param name="arg7" />
   <param name="arg8" />
 
-  <apply-templates select="$fnref" mode="f:apply">
-    <with-param name="arg1" select="$arg1" />
-    <with-param name="arg2" select="$arg2" />
-    <with-param name="arg3" select="$arg3" />
-    <with-param name="arg4" select="$arg4" />
-    <with-param name="arg5" select="$arg5" />
-    <with-param name="arg6" select="$arg6" />
-    <with-param name="arg7" select="$arg7" />
-    <with-param name="arg8" select="$arg8" />
-  </apply-templates>
+  <sequence select="f:partial( $fnref,
+                               ($arg1, $arg2, $arg3, $arg4,
+                                $arg5, $arg6, $arg7, $arg8) )" />
 </function>
 
 
diff --git a/test/apply-test.xsl b/test/apply-test.xsl
index 010de9c..ca3ee18 100644
--- a/test/apply-test.xsl
+++ b/test/apply-test.xsl
@@ -154,4 +154,20 @@
     <sequence select="$arg1, $arg2, $arg3, $arg4,
                         $arg5, $arg6, $arg7, $arg8" />
   </template>
+
+
+  <function name="foo:arg8-check">
+    <param name="args"   as="item()+" />
+    <param name="result" as="item()+" />
+
+    <sequence select="$result[ 1 ] instance of element( foo:applied )
+                      and $result[ 2 ] is $args[1]
+                      and $result[ 3 ] is $args[2]
+                      and $result[ 4 ] is $args[3]
+                      and $result[ 5 ] is $args[4]
+                      and $result[ 6 ] is $args[5]
+                      and $result[ 7 ] is $args[6]
+                      and $result[ 8 ] is $args[7]
+                      and $result[ 9 ] is $args[8]" />
+  </function>
 </stylesheet>
diff --git a/test/apply.xspec b/test/apply.xspec
index 9262024..7f6ad61 100644
--- a/test/apply.xspec
+++ b/test/apply.xspec
@@ -218,12 +218,13 @@
 
 
     <scenario label="applied to partial argument list">
+      <variable name="fn8"
+                select="f:make-ref( QName( $foo-uri, 'fn8' ),
+                                    8 )" />
+
       <!-- while this looks comprehensive, this really only tests
            f:apply#2 -->
       <scenario label="supports currying">
-        <variable name="fn8"
-                  select="f:make-ref( QName( $foo-uri, 'fn8' ),
-                                      8 )" />
 
         <call function="f:apply">
           <!-- @, @ makin' you dizzy? -->
@@ -252,15 +253,168 @@
 
         <expect label="applies target function and binds each
                        argument in proper order"
-                test="$x:result[ 1 ] = foo:applied[ @n = 8 ]
-                      and $x:result[ 2 ] is $args/foo:arg1
-                      and $x:result[ 3 ] is $args/foo:arg2
-                      and $x:result[ 4 ] is $args/foo:arg3
-                      and $x:result[ 5 ] is $args/foo:arg4
-                      and $x:result[ 6 ] is $args/foo:arg5
-                      and $x:result[ 7 ] is $args/foo:arg6
-                      and $x:result[ 8 ] is $args/foo:arg7
-                      and $x:result[ 9 ] is $args/foo:arg8" />
+                test="foo:arg8-check( $args/*, $x:result )" />
+      </scenario>
+
+
+      <scenario label="with 1 argument">
+        <call function="f:apply">
+          <param name="fnref" select="$fn8" />
+          <param name="arg1"  select="$args/foo:arg1" />
+        </call>
+
+        <expect label="produces a partial application"
+                test="f:is-partial( $x:result )" />
+
+        <expect label="can complete application with arguments in
+                       proper order"
+                test="foo:arg8-check(
+                        $args/*,
+                        f:apply( $x:result, $args/foo:arg2,
+                                            $args/foo:arg3,
+                                            $args/foo:arg4,
+                                            $args/foo:arg5,
+                                            $args/foo:arg6,
+                                            $args/foo:arg7,
+                                            $args/foo:arg8 ) )" />
+      </scenario>
+
+
+      <scenario label="with 2 arguments">
+        <call function="f:apply">
+          <param name="fnref" select="$fn8" />
+          <param name="arg1"  select="$args/foo:arg1" />
+          <param name="arg2"  select="$args/foo:arg2" />
+        </call>
+
+        <expect label="produces a partial application"
+                test="f:is-partial( $x:result )" />
+
+        <expect label="can complete application with arguments in
+                       proper order"
+                test="foo:arg8-check(
+                        $args/*,
+                        f:apply( $x:result, $args/foo:arg3,
+                                            $args/foo:arg4,
+                                            $args/foo:arg5,
+                                            $args/foo:arg6,
+                                            $args/foo:arg7,
+                                            $args/foo:arg8 ) )" />
+      </scenario>
+
+
+      <scenario label="with 3 arguments">
+        <call function="f:apply">
+          <param name="fnref" select="$fn8" />
+          <param name="arg1"  select="$args/foo:arg1" />
+          <param name="arg2"  select="$args/foo:arg2" />
+          <param name="arg3"  select="$args/foo:arg3" />
+        </call>
+
+        <expect label="produces a partial application"
+                test="f:is-partial( $x:result )" />
+
+        <expect label="can complete application with arguments in
+                       proper order"
+                test="foo:arg8-check(
+                        $args/*,
+                        f:apply( $x:result, $args/foo:arg4,
+                                            $args/foo:arg5,
+                                            $args/foo:arg6,
+                                            $args/foo:arg7,
+                                            $args/foo:arg8 ) )" />
+      </scenario>
+
+
+      <scenario label="with 4 arguments">
+        <call function="f:apply">
+          <param name="fnref" select="$fn8" />
+          <param name="arg1"  select="$args/foo:arg1" />
+          <param name="arg2"  select="$args/foo:arg2" />
+          <param name="arg3"  select="$args/foo:arg3" />
+          <param name="arg4"  select="$args/foo:arg4" />
+        </call>
+
+        <expect label="produces a partial application"
+                test="f:is-partial( $x:result )" />
+
+        <expect label="can complete application with arguments in
+                       proper order"
+                test="foo:arg8-check(
+                        $args/*,
+                        f:apply( $x:result, $args/foo:arg5,
+                                            $args/foo:arg6,
+                                            $args/foo:arg7,
+                                            $args/foo:arg8 ) )" />
+      </scenario>
+
+
+      <scenario label="with 5 arguments">
+        <call function="f:apply">
+          <param name="fnref" select="$fn8" />
+          <param name="arg1"  select="$args/foo:arg1" />
+          <param name="arg2"  select="$args/foo:arg2" />
+          <param name="arg3"  select="$args/foo:arg3" />
+          <param name="arg4"  select="$args/foo:arg4" />
+          <param name="arg5"  select="$args/foo:arg5" />
+        </call>
+
+        <expect label="produces a partial application"
+                test="f:is-partial( $x:result )" />
+
+        <expect label="can complete application with arguments in
+                       proper order"
+                test="foo:arg8-check(
+                        $args/*,
+                        f:apply( $x:result, $args/foo:arg6,
+                                            $args/foo:arg7,
+                                            $args/foo:arg8 ) )" />
+      </scenario>
+
+
+      <scenario label="with 6 arguments">
+        <call function="f:apply">
+          <param name="fnref" select="$fn8" />
+          <param name="arg1"  select="$args/foo:arg1" />
+          <param name="arg2"  select="$args/foo:arg2" />
+          <param name="arg3"  select="$args/foo:arg3" />
+          <param name="arg4"  select="$args/foo:arg4" />
+          <param name="arg5"  select="$args/foo:arg5" />
+          <param name="arg6"  select="$args/foo:arg6" />
+        </call>
+
+        <expect label="produces a partial application"
+                test="f:is-partial( $x:result )" />
+
+        <expect label="can complete application with arguments in
+                       proper order"
+                test="foo:arg8-check(
+                        $args/*,
+                        f:apply( $x:result, $args/foo:arg7,
+                                            $args/foo:arg8 ) )" />
+      </scenario>
+
+
+      <scenario label="with 7 arguments">
+        <call function="f:apply">
+          <param name="fnref" select="$fn8" />
+          <param name="arg1"  select="$args/foo:arg1" />
+          <param name="arg2"  select="$args/foo:arg2" />
+          <param name="arg3"  select="$args/foo:arg3" />
+          <param name="arg4"  select="$args/foo:arg4" />
+          <param name="arg5"  select="$args/foo:arg5" />
+          <param name="arg6"  select="$args/foo:arg6" />
+          <param name="arg7"  select="$args/foo:arg7" />
+        </call>
+
+        <expect label="produces a partial application"
+                test="f:is-partial( $x:result )" />
+
+        <expect label="can complete application with arguments in
+                       proper order"
+                test="foo:arg8-check(
+                        $args/*,
+                        f:apply( $x:result, $args/foo:arg8 ) )" />
       </scenario>
     </scenario>
   </scenario>