- employ
- mid-15c., from M.Fr. employer, from O.Fr. empleier, from L. implicare "enfold, involve, be connected with," from in- "in" + plicare "to fold" see ply (v.)). Sense of "hire, engage" first recorded in English 1580s, from "involve in a particular purpose." Imply, which is the same word, retains more of the original sense.