occupy

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Occupied p. pr. & vb. n. Occupying ] [ OE. occupien, F. occuper, fr.L. occupare; ob (see Ob-) + a word akin to capere to take. See Capacious. ] 1. To take or hold possession of; to hold or keep for use; to possess. [ 1913 Webster ]

Woe occupieth the fine [ end ] of our gladness. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The better apartments were already occupied. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To hold, or fill, the dimensions of; to take up the room or space of; to cover or fill; as, the camp occupies five acres of ground. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To possess or use the time or capacity of; to engage the service of; to employ; to busy. [ 1913 Webster ]

An archbishop may have cause to occupy more chaplains than six. Eng. Statute (Hen. VIII. ) [ 1913 Webster ]

They occupied themselves about the Sabbath. 2 Macc. viii. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To do business in; to busy one's self with. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All the ships of the sea, with their mariners, were in thee to occupy the merchandise. Ezek. xxvii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not able to occupy their old crafts. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To use; to expend; to make use of. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All the gold that was occupied for the work. Ex. xxxviii. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

They occupy not money themselves. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To have sexual intercourse with. [ Obs. ] Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]