Part 704

3. (Metaph.) The philosophical theory which attributes the origin of all our knowledge to experience.

Em*pir"i*cist (?), n. An empiric.

Em`pi*ris"tic (?), a. (Physics) Relating to, or resulting from, experience, or experiment; following from empirical methods or data; -- opposed to nativistic.

Em*plas"ter (?), n. [OF. emplastre, F. emplâtre, L. emplastrum a plaster or salve, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to plaster up, daub over; &?; in + &?; to form, mold, apply as a plaster.] See Plaster. [Obs.] Wiseman.

Em*plas"ter, v. t. [Cf. OF. emplastrer, F. emplâtrer. See Emplaster, n.] To plaster over; to cover over so as to present a good appearance. [Obs.] "Fair as ye his name emplaster." Chaucer.

Em*plas"tic (?), a. [Cf. F. emplastique, fr. Gr. &?; clogging. See Emplaster.] Fit to be applied as a plaster; glutinous; adhesive; as, emplastic applications.

Em*plas"tic, n. A medicine causing constipation.

Em`plas*tra"tion (?), n. [L. emplastratio a budding.] 1. The act or process of grafting by inoculation; budding. [Obs.] Holland.

2. [See 1st Emplaster.] (Med.) The application of a plaster or salve.

Em*plead" (?), v. t. [Pref. em- (L. in) + plead: cf. F. emplaidier. Cf. Implead.] To accuse; to indict. See Implead.

Em*plec"tion (?), n. See Emplecton.

Em*plec"ton (?), n. [F. or L. emplecton, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; interwoven, fr. &?; to plait or weave in; &?; in + &?; to twist, weave.] A kind of masonry in which the outer faces of the wall are ashlar, the space between being filled with broken stone and mortar. Cross layers of stone are interlaid as binders. [R.] Weale.

Em*plore" (?), v. t. See Implore. [Obs.]

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.

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.

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.

Jonathan . . . and Jahaziah . . . were employed about this matter.

Ezra x. 15.

Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer To turn the glebe.

Dryden.

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.

Em*ploy", n. [Cf. F. emploi.] That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular service or business; employment.

The whole employ of body and of mind.

Pope.

In one's employ, in one's service.