Oc"cu*py (?), 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.

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

The better apartments were already occupied. W. Irving
.

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.

3.

To possess or use the time or capacity of; to engage the service of; to employ; to busy.

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

They occupied themselves about the Sabbath. 2 Macc. viii. 27.

4.

To do business in; to busy one's self with.

[Obs.]

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

Not able to occupy their old crafts. Robynson (More's Utopia).

5.

To use; to expend; to make use of.

[Obs.]

All the gold that was occupied for the work. Ex. xxxviii. 24.

They occupy not money themselves. Robynson (More's Utopia).

6.

To have sexual intercourse with.

[Obs.]

Nares.

 

© Webster 1913.


Oc"cu*py, v. i.

1.

To hold possession; to be an occupant.

"Occupy till I come."

Luke xix. 13.

2.

To follow business; to traffic.

 

© Webster 1913.

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