EMPLOY • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Employ

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/ɛmplˈɔɪ/ /ɪmplˈɔɪ/ Listen

verb

Employ v. t. (past & past part. employed; pres. part. employing)

To inclose; to infold. (Obs.)

To use; to have in service; to cause to be engaged in doing something; often followed by in, about, on, or upon, and sometimes by to; as:

(a)

To make use of, as an instrument, a means, a material, etc., for a specific purpose; to apply; as, to employ the pen in writing, bricks in building, words and phrases in speaking; to employ the mind; to employ one's energies. "This is a day in which the thoughts... ought to be employed on serious subjects."

(b)

To occupy; as, to employ time in study.

(c)

To have or keep at work; to give employment or occupation to; to intrust with some duty or behest; as, to employ a hundred workmen; to employ an envoy. "Jonathan... and Jahaziah... were employed about this matter." "Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer To turn the glebe."

To employ one's self, to apply or devote one's time and attention; to busy one's self.

Synonyms: To use; busy; apply; exercise; occupy; engross; engage. See Use.

noun

Employ n. That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular service or business; employment. "The whole employ of body and of mind."

In one's employ, in one's service.

See images of 'Employ'

Etymology of 'Employ'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Employ" Quotes from Famous Books

... bearings as far as was practicable, in order to obtain their widths and general contour. In the vicinity of Chamberlain Lake use has also been made of a recent survey of Mr. Parrott, a surveyor in the employ of the State of Maine, to whom we acknowledge ourselves indebted for the aid which this portion of ...

— A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents: Tyler - Section 2 (of 3) of Volume 4: John Tyler • Compiled by James D. Richardson

... satellites to Uranus or Neptune, or for the materials to determine the rotation periods of these planets with a small telescope. Every observer will find objects suited to the capacity of his instrument, and he may not only employ it usefully but possibly make a discovery of nearly equal import with that which rendered the name of Herschel famous a century ...

— Scientific American Supplement, No. 303 - October 22, 1881 • Various

... sweet Lady: if you have any friend, or Garden-house, where you may employ a poor gentleman as your friend, I am yours to command in ...

— The London Prodigal • William Shakespeare [Apocrypha]

... nux vomica. In debilitated horses combine the nux vomica with one-half ounce powdered gentian root. As a wash for the skin use 1 dram bicarbonate of soda and 1 dram carbolic acid in a quart of water, after having cleansed the surface with tepid water. Employ the same precautions as regards feeding, stabling, and care of harness as in simple congestion of ...

— Special Report on Diseases of the Horse • United States Department of Agriculture

... towards the interviewer, I own. I wish him, and those who employ him, a better trade; and a better taste to whoever reads what he writes. But Barty could be hard-hearted to nobody, and always regretted having granted the interview when he saw the published ...

— The Martian • George Du Maurier

More quotes...