v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Engaged p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging ] [ F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See Gage. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw. [ 1913 Webster ]

Good nature engages everybody to him. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict. [ 1913 Webster ]

A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. Ludlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 part. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant. [ 1913 Webster ]

How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 controversy. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Occupied; employed; busy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Involved; esp., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged ships continued the fight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Engaged column. (Arch.) Same as Attached column. See under Attach, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With attachment; with interest; earnestly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being deeply interested; earnestness; zeal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. engagement. ] 1. The act of engaging, pledging, enlisting, occupying, or entering into contest. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being engaged, pledged or occupied; specif., a pledge to take some one as husband or wife. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which engages; engrossing occupation; employment of the attention; obligation by pledge, promise, or contract; an enterprise embarked in; as, his engagements prevented his acceptance of any office. [ 1913 Webster ]

Religion, which is the chief engagement of our league. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mil.) An action; a fight; a battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

In hot engagement with the Moors. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mach.) The state of being in gear; as, one part of a clutch is brought into engagement with the other part.

Syn. -- Vocation; business; employment; occupation; promise; stipulation; betrothal; word; battle; combat; fight; contest; conflict. See Battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who enters into an engagement or agreement; a surety. [ 1913 Webster ]

Several sufficient citizens were engagers. Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to draw the attention or affections; attractive; as, engaging manners or address. -- En*ga"ging*ly, adv. -- En*ga"ging*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Engaging and disengaging gear or
Engaging and disengaging machinery, that in which, or by means of which, one part is alternately brought into gear or out of gear with another part, as occasion may require. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make a gallant of. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. en- + gaol: cf. OF. engaoler, engeoler. See Gaol, and cf. Enjail. ] To put in jail; to imprison. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]