Main Entry: ¹em·ploy

Pronunciation: \im-ˈplȯi, em-\

Function: transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English emploien, from Anglo-French empleier, emploier, emplier to entangle, apply, make use of, from Latin implicare to enfold, involve, from in- + plicare to fold — more at ply

Date: 15th century

1 a : to make use of (someone or something inactive) <employ a pen for sketching> b : to use (as time) advantageously <a job that employed her skills> c (1) : to use or engage the services of (2) : to provide with a job that pays wages or a salary
2 : to devote to or direct toward a particular activity or person <employed all her energies to help the poor>

synonyms see use

— em·ploy·er noun