employ

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English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle French employer, from Latin implicare (to infold, involve, engage), from in (in) + plicare (to fold). Compare imply and implicate, which are doublets of employ .

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /ɪmˈplɔɪ/, /ɛmˈplɔɪ/
  • (file)
    Rhymes: -ɔɪ

Noun [edit]

employ (plural employs)

  1. The state of being an employee; employment.
    The school district has six thousand teachers in its employ.

Synonyms [edit]

Verb [edit]

employ (third-person singular simple present employs, present participle employing, simple past and past participle employed)

  1. to hire (somebody for work or a job)
    • 1668 July 3rd, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), page 547
      Andrew Houſtoun and Adam Muſhet, being Tackſmen of the Excize, did Imploy Thomas Rue to be their Collector, and gave him a Sallary of 30. pound Sterling for a year.
  2. to use (a person for a job)
    • 1598, William Shakespeare, Othello, Act 1, Scene iii:
      Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you / against the general enemy Ottoman.
  3. to make busy
    • 1598, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene viii:
      Let it not enter in your mind of love: / Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts / to courtship and such fair ostents of love / as shall conveniently become you there

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

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External links [edit]