the state of being employed or having a job
"they are looking for employment"
"he was in the employ of the city"
The state of being an employee; employment.
"His job security depends on maintaining steady employ during the economic downturn."
In plain English: An employ is not actually a noun; it is only used as a verb to mean hiring someone for work.
"The job requires careful employment of all available resources to finish on time."
Usage: Use the noun form to refer specifically to one's status as an employed person, distinct from general labor. This term is often confused with "employment," which describes the condition of having a job rather than the individual holding it.
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
"use your head!"
"we only use Spanish at home"
"I can't use this tool"
"Apply a magnetic field here"
"This thinking was applied to many projects"
"How do you utilize this tool?"
"I apply this rule to get good results"
"use the plastic bags to store the food"
"He doesn't know how to use a computer"
To hire (somebody for work or a job).
"The company plans to employ five new engineers next month."
In plain English: To employ someone means to hire them for a job so they can work and get paid.
"My grandmother employs three part-time helpers to manage her large garden during summer."
The word "employ" comes from the Old French emploiier, which originally meant to entangle or fabricate something before evolving into its current sense of making use of someone's services. It traveled into English during the late Middle Ages, derived ultimately from a Latin root meaning to infold or involve.