▪ I. engaging, vbl. n.
(ɛnˈgeɪdʒɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. engage, in various senses. Also attrib., as in engaging guard (Mil.).
| 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 10/1 The engaging the Parliament in the war. 1680 Burnet Rochester 111 The ingaging into much Passion. 1803 Capt. Bissell in Naval Chron. XI. 241 This kind of engaging lasted more than an hour. 1833 Regul. Instr. Cavalry i. 138 Forming quickly his ‘Engaging Guard’ to any point required. Ibid. i. 147 Engaging..the action of joining the sword of an opponent, either previous to his, or your own attack. |
▪ II. engaging, ppl. a.
(ɛnˈgeɪdʒɪŋ)
[f. engage v. + -ing2.]
That engages, in various senses.
1. † a. Obliging (obs.). † b. Absorbing, interesting (obs.). c. Winning, attractive.
| 1673 Vain Insol. Rome 11, I have not forgot your engaging Charity. 1692 E. Walker Epictetus' Mor. lxi, These ingaging Virtues are the Tyes, That more oblige, than Arts, or Amorous Eyes. 1713 Berkeley Ess. in Guardian vi. Wks. III. 163 Virtue has in herself the most engaging charms. 1817 J. Scott Paris Revisit. 104 The walk on the old ramparts presents several most engaging views. 1833 Baroness Bunsen in Hare Life (1879) I. ix. 405 She..has always the same engaging manner. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 250 His countenance was eminently handsome and engaging. |
2. That makes an engagement or gives a pledge.
| 1883 Glasgow Week. Her. 8 Sept. 3/2 The father of the infant baptised used to be addressed [in the Scotch baptismal service] as ‘the engaging parent’. |
3. Mech. engaging and disengaging machinery: that in which one part is alternately united to, or separated from, another part, as occasion may require. (Nicholson.)