Employ rotten gag: entertaining, somewhat! (6)

I believe the answer is:

engage

'employ' is the definition.
(I know that engage is a kind of employ)

'rotten gag entertaining somewhat' is the wordplay.
'somewhat' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ENGAGE' can be found hidden inside 'rotten gag entertaining'.

(Other definitions for engage that I've seen before include "Recruit" , "Occupy (interest)" , "Pay to serve" , "start fighting" , "Employ or get involved in battle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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