The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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   2. 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.
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                This is a day in which the thoughts . . . ought
                to be employed on serious subjects. --Addison.
      (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.
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                Jonathan . . . and Jahaziah . . . were employed
                about this matter.                --Ezra x. 15.
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                Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer
                To turn the glebe.                --Dryden.
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   To employ one's self, to apply or devote one's time and
      attention; to busy one's self.

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