employ (v.)
early 15c., "apply or devote (something to some purpose); expend or spend," from Old French emploiier (12c.) "make use of, apply; increase; entangle; devote," from Latin implicare "enfold, involve, be connected with, unite, associate," from assimilated form of in- (from PIE root *en "in") + plicare "to fold" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait").
Imply, which is the same word, retains more of the original sense. Sense of "hire, engage" first recorded in English 1580s, from meaning "involve in a particular purpose," which arose in Late Latin. Related: Employed; employing; employable.
employ (n.)
1660s, "action of employing," from French emploi, from verb employer (see employ (v.)). From 1709 as "state of being employed."
updated on December 07, 2020
Dictionary entries near employ
empiricist
emplace
emplacement
emplane
emplore
employ
employe
employee
employer
employment
emporium