EMPLOY', L. plico.
1. To occupy the time, attention and labor of to keep busy, or at work to use. We employ our hands in labor we employ our heads or faculties in study or thought the attention is employed, when the mind is fixed or occupied upon an object we employ time, when we devote it to an object. A portion of time should be daily employed in reading the scriptures, meditation and prayer a great portion of life is employed to little profit or to very bad purposes.
2. To use as an instrument or means. We employ pens in writing, and arithmetic in keeping accounts. We employ medicines in curing diseases.
3. To use as materials in forming any thing. We employ timber, stones or bricks, in building we employ wool, linen and cotton, in making cloth.
4. To engage in one's service to use as an agent or substitute in transacting business to commission and entrust with the management of one's affairs. The president employed an envoy to negotiate a treaty. Kings and States employ embassadors at foreign courts.
5. To occupy to use to apply or devote to an object to pass in business as, to employ time to employ an hour, a day or a week to employ one's life.
To employ one's self, is to apply or devote one's time and attention to busy one's self.