See Also: engage(1)(dictionary)
engage(2)(dictionary)
engage(dictionary)
pre-engage(dictionary)
re-engage(dictionary)
engage(dictionary)

engage(2) (iou)



engage verb. Also ingage. LME.
[Old & mod. French engager from Proto-Romance, formed as EN-1, IN-2 + base of WAGE noun.]
I. Pledge, secure.
verb trans.
a. Make over as a pledge; pawn; mortgage. LME-M17.
b. fig. Pledge (one's life, honour, etc.); put at risk, compromise. Now rare. M16.
A. Fraser He would engage his soul for the reliability of all present.
c. Make (a person) security for a commitment. L16-M17.
verb intrans. Pledge oneself (to do, that); guarantee; enter into a contract or undertaking (to do; also with an employee or worker). M16.
O. Wilde: I..engage to have it done by September.
b. Foll. by for: answer for, guarantee; undertake to do, promise. M17.
A. Hamilton He could not engage for their safety.
c. Take service with or with an employer. M18.
verb trans. Bind by a legal or moral obligation (to a party or deed; to do). E17.
J. L. Motley He declined engaging himself not to recall his foreign soldiery. P. G. Wodehouse Horace was engaged to marry..Valerie.
b. spec. Bind by a promise of marriage, betroth. Usu. in pass. E18.
M. Puzo Sonny was formally engaged to Sandra.
c. In pass. Have a social or business engagement arranged; be occupied in a meeting. L19.
Oxford English Dictionary I am engaged for tomorrow, but could dine with you on Monday.
verb trans. Urge, persuade, induce. Now rare. M17.
T. Keightley He engaged them to declare in his favour.
verb trans. Win over as an adherent or ally. arch. L17.
verb trans. Fascinate, charm. Now rare. E18.
verb trans.
a. Hire for work, take on as an employee; refl. take up employment (foll. by to the employer). M18.
C. Chaplin We were able to engage a maid to come twice a week. J. Conrad An American ship where..he had dared to engage himself.
b. Secure for one's own use; arrange beforehand to occupy or use; book, reserve. M18.
W. S. Maugham She had offered to engage a room..in the house of the woman. E. Waugh The tables are all engaged.
II. Involve, entangle.
verb trans. Entangle physically; ensnare. L16-L17.
verb trans. & intrans. Involve, commit, (oneself) in an undertaking, quarrel, etc. Also foll. by other prepositions. L16-L18.
verb intrans. & trans. (Cause to) enter into or involve oneself in a place from which withdrawal is difficult. M17-M19.
verb intrans. Enter upon or occupy oneself in an activity, interest, etc. Formerly also foll. by on. M17.
J. Barzun Nations where intellectuals engage..in politics and state service.
verb trans. Keep occupied or busy, provide occupation for, (a person, a person's thoughts, etc.). Usu. in pass., foll. by in (on, with). M17.
E. Waugh The local police were engaged in directing all traffic..to the course. W. S. Churchill Colonisation..was the task that engaged the Western pioneers.
verb trans. Attract and hold fast (a person's attention, interest, etc.). M18.
Steele Her form..engaged the eyes of the whole congregation in an instant. R. Travers A mystery which engaged the attention of the press for some time.
b. Draw (a person) into a conversation. Usu. foll. by in. E20.
A. Powell Templar tried..to engage the girl in conversation.
Architecture. Fasten, attach; let part of (a column) into a wall. Usu. in pass. M18.
verb intrans. & trans. Of part of a mechanism: come into contact with or fit into a corresponding part, so as to prevent or transmit movement; cause to do this; interlock (with). Also, put a motor vehicle into (gear, or a specified gear). M19.
V. Nabokov Press home until you hear or feel the magazine catch engage. Autosport He could not engage third properly. W. Boyd Then the gears were engaged..and the car slowly pulled away.
III. With ref. to combat.
a. verb intrans. Enter into combat. Usu. foll. by with. M17.
Southey The mob..did not venture to engage against musketry and cannon.
b. verb trans. Bring (forces) into battle (with). M19.
verb trans. Enter into combat with, attack. L17.
F. Fitzgerald American troops successfully engaged the enemy main forces and killed a great number.
verb trans. & intrans. Of combatants: bring (weapons) together preparatory to fighting. L17.
H. Allen Since there are no seconds..I shall simply count three and engage.
engager noun a person who engages someone or in something, or enters into an engagement; spec. (Hist.) a person who approved of the secret treaty made between Charles I and Scottish rulers in 1647: E17.