*employ*

n. The state of being disemployed, or deprived of employment. [ 1913 Webster ]

This glut of leisure and disemployment. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jonathan . . . and Jahaziah . . . were employed about this matter. Ezra x. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer
To turn the glebe. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

a. [ Cf. F. employable. ] Capable of being employed; capable of being used; fit or proper for use. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., p. p. of employer. ] One employed by another; a clerk or workman in the service of an employer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ The Eng. form of employé. ] One employed by another. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who employs another; as, an employer of workmen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of employing or using; also, the state of being employed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which engages or occupies; that which consumes time or attention; office or post of business; service; as, agricultural employments; mechanical employments; public employments; in the employment of government. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cares are employments, and without employ
The soul is on a rack. Young.

Syn. -- Work; business; occupation; vocation; calling; office; service; commission; trade; profession. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To employ amiss; as, to misemploy time, advantages, talents, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their frugal father's gains they misemploy. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Wrong or mistaken employment. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To employ beforehand. “Preëmployed by him.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not employed in manual or other labor; having no regular work. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not invested or used; as, unemployed capital. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Economics) actively seeking employment but unable to find a suitable job. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality or state of being not employed; -- used esp. in economics, of the condition of various social classes when temporarily thrown out of employment, as those engaged for short periods, those whose trade is decaying, and those least competent. Unemployment is usually cointed as the condition of those who wish to work, but cannot find a suitable job, rather than others who may voluntarily refrain from working, such as retired persons, youth, or those remaining at home to care for young children. The
unemployment rate in economics is thus the proportion of those actively seeking work but unable to find it, to the total labor force, expressed as a percentage. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]