Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
HIRE
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hȳr; akin to Old Saxon hūria hire Date: before 12th century
1. payment for the temporary use of something, payment for labor or personal services ; wages,
2. the act or an instance of hiring, the state of being hired ; employment , rental , one who is hired ,
II. verb (hired; hiring) Date: before 12th century transitive verb
1. to engage the personal services of for a set sum , to engage the temporary use of for a fixed sum , to grant the personal services of or temporary use of for a fixed sum , to get done for pay , intransitive verb to take employment , hirer noun Synonyms: see: hire