employ

employ
\ \ [15] Essentially, employ is the same word as imply [14] and implicate [16]. All three come ultimately from Latin implicāreenfold, involve’, a compound verb formed from the prefix in- ‘in’ and plicārefold’ (source of English ply and related to English fold). This passed into Old French as emplier, which in turn was transmitted into English as imply; this originally retained the literal sense ‘enfold’, and it was only gradually that the metaphorical ‘involve as a necessary condition’ developed.
\ \ However, Old French emplier had a variant empleier, later emploier, which took a slightly different semantic route – from simply ‘involve’ to ‘involve in or apply to a particular purpose’.
\ \ This was the sense in which English acquired it as employ.
\ \ Cf.FOLD, IMPLICATE, IMPLY, PLY

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • employ — Employ. s. m. v. L usage qu on fait de quelque chose. Faire un bon employ, un mauvais employ de son argent, de son temps. il n a pû faire voir l employ de l argent qu il a touché. il faut faire apparoistre de l employ des deniers. quittance d… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • employ — em‧ploy [ɪmˈplɔɪ] verb [transitive] HUMAN RESOURCES to pay someone to work for you: • The company employs 2000 people worldwide. employ somebody as something • He is employed as a baggage handler at the airport. employ somebody to do something …   Financial and business terms

  • Employ — Em*ploy , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Employed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Employing}.] [F. employer, fr. L. implicare to fold into, infold, involve, implicate, engage; in + plicare to fold. See {Ply}, and cf. {Imply}, {Implicate}.] 1. To inclose; to infold.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Employ — Em*ploy , n. [Cf. F. emploi.] That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular service or business; employment. [1913 Webster] The whole employ of body and of mind. Pope. [1913 Webster] {In one s employ}, in one s service. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • employ — I (engage services) verb add to the payroll, appoint, assign, authorize, commission, contract, delegate, detineri, empower, engage, enlist, enroll, entrust with a task, entrust with management, fill a position, fill a vacancy, fill an opening,… …   Law dictionary

  • employ — ► VERB 1) give work to (someone) and pay them for it. 2) make use of. 3) keep occupied. ● in the employ of Cf. ↑in the employ of DERIVATIVES employability noun …   English terms dictionary

  • employ — [v1] make use of apply, bestow, bring to bear*, engage, exercise, exert, exploit, fill, handle, keep busy*, manipulate, occupy, operate, put to use*, spend, take up*, use, use up*, utilize; concept 225 Ant. ignore, misuse, shun, unemploy employ… …   New thesaurus

  • employ — [em ploi′, imploi′] vt. [ME emploien < OFr emploier < L implicare, to enfold, engage: see IMPLY] 1. to make use of; use 2. to keep busy or occupied; take up the attention, time, etc. of; devote [to employ oneself in study] 3. to provide… …   English World dictionary

  • Employ'e — Em ploy [ e] , n. [F., p. p. of employer.] One employed by another; a clerk or workman in the service of an employer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • employ — (v.) early 15c., from M.Fr. employer, from O.Fr. emploiier (12c.) make use of, apply; increase; entangle; devote, from L. implicare enfold, involve, be connected with, from in (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + plicare to fold (see PLY (Cf. ply) (v.)).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • employ — vb *use, utilize, apply, avail Analogous words: *practice, exercise, drill: engross, absorb, *monopolize: *choose, select, pick …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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