v. Obs. Forms: α. 5–6 enbesy, 6 embesy, enbusy, -ie, 6–7 embusie, -y. β. 6–7 imbusy. [f. EN- + BUSY a.] trans. To render busy, occupy assiduously; to give care or anxiety to. Chiefly refl.
1484. Caxton, Ryall Bk., B v. To occupye and enbesy hym in thre thynges.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (1531), 57 b. Enbusy not thy selfe.
1543. Necess. Doct. Chr. Man, Introd. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. The heads and senses of our people have been imbusied … with the understanding of Free Will.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. ix. (1632), 535. Nor hawking, nor gardens … can much embusie or greatly ammuse me.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. ix. § 28. The Earle of Pembroke … wholly embusied in the enterprize of Britaine.
1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xiii. 104. Not imbusied … with … Soul-disturbing Perturbations.
