Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Engage
En-gage′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Engaged
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Engaging
.] 1.
To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise.
“I to thee engaged a prince’s word.” Shak.
2.
To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist;
as, to
engage
friends to aid in a cause; to engage
men for service.3.
To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.
Good nature
engages
everybody to him. Addison.
4.
To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.
Thus shall mankind his guardian care
engage
. Pope.
Taking upon himself the difficult task of
engaging
him in conversation. Hawthorne.
5.
To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.
A favorable opportunity of
engaging
the enemy. Ludlow.
6.
(Mach.)
To come into gear with;
as, the teeth of one cogwheel
. engage
those of another, or one part of a clutch engages
the other partEn-gage′
,Verb.
I.
1.
To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.
How proper the remedy for the malady, I
engage
not. Fuller.
2.
To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist;
as, to
. engage
in controversy3.
To enter into conflict; to join battle;
as, the armies
. engaged
in a general battle4.
(Mach.)
To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.
Webster 1828 Edition
Engage
ENGA'GE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To make liable for a debt to a creditor; to bind one's self as surety.2.
To pawn; to stake as a pledge.3.
To enlist; to bring into a party; as, to engage men for service; to engage friends to aid in a cause.4.
To embark in an affair; as, be not hasty to engage yourself in party disputes.5.
To gain; to win and attach; to draw to.Good nature engages every one to its possessor.
To very duty he could minds engage.
6.
To unite and bind by contract or promise. Nations engage themselves to each other by treaty. The young often engage themselves to their sorrow.7.
To attract and fix; as, to engage the attention.8.
To occupy; to employ assiduously. We were engaged in conversation. The nation is engaged in war.9.
To attack in contest; to encounter. The army engaged the enemy at ten o'clock. The captain engaged the ship, at point blank distance.ENGA'GE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To embark in any business; to take a concern in; to undertake. Be cautious not to engage in controversy, without indispensable necessity.2.
To promise or pledge one's word; to bind one's self; as, a friend has engaged to supply the necessary funds.