en·gage
(ĕn-gāj́)
[Middle English engagen, to pledge something as security for repayment of debt, from Old French engagier, en-, in; see en–1, + gage, pledge, of Germanic origin.]
verb: -gaged, -gag·ing, -gag·es.
transitive verb
- To obtain or contract for the services of; employ: engage a carpenter.
- To arrange for the use of; reserve: engage a room. See synonyms at book
- To pledge or promise, especially to marry.
- To attract and hold the attention of; engross: a hobby that engaged her for hours at a time.
- To win over or attract: His smile engages everyone he meets.
- To draw into; involve: engage a shy person in conversation.
- To require the use of; occupy: Studying engages most of my time.
- To enter or bring into conflict with: We have engaged the enemy.
- To interlock or cause to interlock; mesh: engage the automobile's clutch.
- To give or take as security.
intransitive verb
- To involve oneself or become occupied; participate: engage in conversation.
- To assume an obligation; agree.
- To enter into conflict or battle: The armies engaged at dawn.
- To become meshed or interlocked: The gears engaged.
derivatives
- en·gaǵer
- noun
en·ga·gé
(ĕńgä-zhā́)
[French past participle of engager, to engage, from Old French engagier, to pledge; see engage.]
adjective
- Actively committed, as to a political cause.
