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 salary2: 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