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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Hire

Hīre, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. HIRED; p. pr. & vb. n. HIRING.] [A-S. hyrīan, Dan. hyre, Sw. hyra, D. huren, L. Ger. hūren, M. H. Ger. hūren, N. H. Ger. heuern: A-S. hyr, hire, wage, Dan. hyre, Sw. hyra, D. huur, N. H. Ger. heuer.]

Sense 1. To procure from another person, and for temporary use, for a compensation or equivalent; as, to hire a farm for a year; to hire a horse for a day; to hire money at legal interest.

Sense 2. To engage in service for a stipulated reward; to contract with for wages; as, to hire a servant for a year; to hire laborers by the day or month.

Sense 3. To engage in immoral or illegal service for a reward; to bribe.

Sense 4. To grant the temporary use of, for compensation; to engage the service of, for a reward; to let; to lease; — usually with out; as, he has hired out his farm; — often used reflexively; as, to hire one's self out.

They . . . have hired out themselves for bread. 1 Sam. ii. 5.

Hire, n.

noun

n. [See supra.] 1. The price, reward, or compensation paid, or contracted to be given, for the temporary use of any thing. 2. The reward or recompense paid for personal service; wages. The laborer is worthy of his hire. Luke x. 7.

  1. Reward for base or illegal service; a bribe.
  2. (Law.) A bailment by which the use of a thing, or the services and labor of a person, are contracted for at a certain price or reward. Story.

Syn.—Wages; salary; stipend; allowance; pay.