▪ I. engage, n.
(ɛnˈgeɪdʒ)
[f. next vb.; cf. It. ingaggio.]
† 1. a. Engagement, bargain. b. The state of being engaged or entangled; embarrassment, peril (cf. engage v. 13). Obs.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 241 Nor that it came by purchase or engage. 1626 G. Sandys Ovid's Met., xiii. 76 Nestor..implor'd to his ingage Vlysses helpe. |
2. In Sword-exercise: (the vb. in the imperative used subst.: see engage v. 17).
| 1833 Regul. Instr. Cavalry i. 142 Come to the ‘Engage’. 1871 Daily News 14 Jan., Men..sat down cheerfully in their saddles, and brought their swords to the ‘engage’. |
▪ II. engage, v.
(ɛnˈgeɪdʒ)
Forms: α. (6 enguage, 7 engadge), 6– engage. β. 6–8 ingage.
[a. F. engage-r, f. en (see en-1) + gage pledge (see gage, wage): cf. the equivalents Pr. engatgar, enguatjar, engatjar, It. ingaggiare.
The trans. and refl. senses (exc. 19) approximately follow the senses of Fr. engager; the intr. senses and the trans. sense 19 are of English development.]
I. To deposit or make over as a pledge.
† 1. trans. To pledge or pawn (movable property); to mortgage (lands, houses, etc.). Obs.
| 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cxiii. [cix.] 322 His brother had before that enguaged the thre forsaid castels for florens. 1577 Holinshed Chron. II. 28 Duke Robert..engaged a portion of his duchie of Normandie to his youngest brother Henrie for a great sum of gold. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. vii. (1588) 280 The Ciuilians doe adiudge it theft, if one (that laieth his goods to pledge) do embesell them from the partie to whom they were engaged. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia i. 3 For an armour he would haue ingaged vs a bagge of pearle. 1669 Penn No Cross xviii. §9 Persons, who by their Excess..have deeply engaged their Estates. |
2. fig. To pledge, offer as a guarantee (one's life, honour, etc.); also, to expose to risk, compromise. rare in mod. use.
| 1568 North tr. Gueuara's Diall of Princes (1619) 709, I..admonish the..Officers of Princes not to sell, chaunge, nor engage their liberties as they doe, etc. 1599 Daniel Civ. Wares v. The Queene perceiuing in what case she stoode, To lose her Minion, or ingage her State. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. v. iv. 172 This to be true, I do engage my life. 1631 Heywood Maid West ii. iii. Wks. 1874 II. 378 My honour, faith and country are ingag'd. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 477/1 All this we say without engaging our Opinion. 1677 Govt. Venice 63 By a ridiculous Custom this Admiral..engages his Life there shall be no Tempest that day. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. I. xviii. 493 Others had engaged their doubtful fidelity to the emperor. 1855 Card. Wiseman Fabiola 238 But my honour is engaged. |
II. To bind or secure by a pledge.
† 3. To make (a person) security for a payment, the fulfilment of an undertaking, etc.; ‘to render liable for a debt to a creditor’ (J.). Obs.
| 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iii. ii. 264, I haue ingag'd my selfe to a deere friend, Ingag'd my friend to his meere enemie To feede my meanes. 1639 Massinger Unnat. Combat iii. iii, Yet detain from us The debt..We have made you stand engaged for. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxii. 117 He that lendeth it..understandeth those onely for his debtors, that are engaged. |
4. a. To bind by a contract or formal promise.
| 1603 Florio Montaigne (1634) 493 Hazarding rather to consume, then engage themselves to feminine embracements. 1617 Hieron Wks. II. 332 These vowes were the solemne promises, by which he..ingaged himselfe to God. 1702 Rowe Amb. Step-Moth. iv. i. 1644 My Father's Fate dissolves that Truce to which I stood ingag'd. 1855 Motley Dutch Rep. v. i. (1866) 659 He declined engaging himself not to recall his foreign soldiery. |
b. spec. To bind by a promise of marriage; to betroth. Chiefly pass. and refl. (See also 6 c.)
| 1727 Fielding Love in Sev. Masq. Wks. 1775 I. 31 Since nothing else will do, I am engaged by all the strength of vows and honour. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 648 He was engaged to a young lady of gentle blood. 1867 Trollope Chron. Barset I. xxx. 257 What would you think of a girl who could engage herself to any man under such circumstances? |
c. In mod. use often in pass. with weaker sense: To have promised one's presence, made an appointment, etc., for any purpose of business or pleasure.
| 1885 L. B. Walford Nan, &c. I. 79 He has asked Nan [to dance] before, but she was engaged. Mod. I am engaged for to-morrow, but could dine with you on Monday. |
5. [With etymological sense of securing by payment of earnest-money: see gage, wage.] a. To hire, secure the services of (a servant, workman, agent, etc.). Also refl. of a servant, etc.: To enter into an agreement for service.
| 1753 Hanway Travels (1762) I. Introd. 13 A british subject who engaged himself as a factor to the russia company. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. §24. 169 Balmat was engaged at this time as the guide of Mr., etc. 1862 Trollope Orley F. xiii. 100 We have engaged the services of Mr. Aram. 1876 Green Short Hist. vi. §6. (1882) 325 Thomas Cromwell..was certainly engaged as the commercial agent to one of the Venetian merchants. Mod. He has engaged himself to an engineer. |
b. To bespeak or secure (something) for one's own or another's use or possession.
| 1760 Washington Diary 7 Jan. (1925) I. 109 Accompanied Mrs. Bassett to Alexandria and engaged a Keg of Butter of Mr. Kirkpatrick, being quite out of that article. 1795 Southey Lett. fr. Spain (1799) 10 The boxes [in the theatre] are engaged by the season. 1820 Moorcroft Trav. (1841) I. 199, I laid in a considerable quantity of wheat flour at Tand{iacu}, and engaged carriers and ponies for its transport. Mod. I have engaged rooms at the hotel. This seat is engaged. Engage places for us in the coach. |
6. intr. for refl. (in senses 4, 5). a. gen. To pledge oneself; to enter into a covenant or undertaking. Const. to with inf., or subordinate clause; † rarely into, unto with n. as obj. Also, to ‘warrant’, pledge one's credit, assert on one's own responsibility that.
| 1613 R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3), Ingage, lay to pledge, binde himselfe. 1647 Fuller Good Th. in Worse T. (1841) 127 How proper the remedy for the malady I engage not. 1649 Bp. Reynolds Hosea iv. 57 A manifestation of that love in some promise or other, ingageing unto assistance. 1650 Nicholas Papers (1886) I. 184 His Lordship..was to engadge it should be repaid in that time [3 yeares]. 1661 Papers on Alter. Prayer Bk. 100 Renouncing the flesh, etc. And ingageing into the Christian belief. 1672 Cave Prim. Chr. iii. iv. (1673) 335 When Christ promises so much to them who engage with him. 1720 Col. Rec. Penns. III. 100 Our Indians have repeatedly engaged to me that they would go no more out to War. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 118 ¶9 The man..has no other care than to collect interest, to estimate securities, and to engage for mortgages. 1787 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 303 The court of London engaged not to abandon Prussia. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 242 Harold further engaged to give his sister in marriage to an unnamed Norman noble. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic xviii, Croisic, I'll engage, With Rome yields sort for sort, in age for age. |
b. to engage for: to be answerable for, guarantee; later, to undertake to perform, to promise. Rarely in indirect passive.
| 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) II. 70 Some near Friend..engaged for his Honesty and good Behaviour. 1708 Swift Sacram. Test, How chearfully they engaged for the safety of the nation. 1727 A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. II. xxxviii. 68 He could not engage for their [Fakires'] Safety among his Countrymen. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) IV. 348 Her wishes..were gently intimated, and as readily engaged for. 1813 Jane Austen Pride & Prej. i. 2 It is more than I engage for, I assure you. 1866 Carlyle Inaug. Addr. 171 That is pretty much all I can engage for. |
† c. To betroth oneself (see 4 b.). Obs. rare.
| 1722 De Foe Relig. Courtsh. i. i. (1840) 9 She will know how it is as to that, before she engages. |
d. To agree with a servant, workman, or employé for hired service. Occas. with indirect pass. (Mostly superseded by 5 a.)
| 1791 Smeaton Edystone L. (1793) §309 Till proper persons could be engaged with and sent off. 1825 T. Cosnett Footman's Directory 217 Many ladies and gentlemen will not engage with any one who does not know town well. |
e. Of a servant, etc.: To take service (with a master or employer). Cf. 5 a.
| 1766 J. Wedgwood Let. 15 Sept. (1965) 42, I should expect him to engage for three years at least. Mod. Before I engage with another master, I will, etc. |
7. a. trans. In wider sense: To bind by moral or legal obligation. Const. to with n. or inf.
| 164. Chas. I Answ. Earles of Bristol & Dorset 5 The municipall and fundamentall Lawes of that Nation ingage the Subject to..strictnesse of obedience. 1659 Hammond On Ps. xviii. 1 Paraphr. 94, I stand ingaged, most passionately to love, and bless, and magnifie thee. 1672 Grew Anat. Plants, Idea Philos. Hist. Pl. §8 The present Design will ingage us, to an accurate and multifarious Observation of Plants. |
† b. To lay under obligations of gratitude; to oblige. Const. to (a person), or simply. Obs.
| 1626 D'Ewes in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 322 III. 214 By which I assure my selfe further ingaged, then by your most kind acknowledgement anye way discharged. 1631 Heywood Maid West ii. iii. Wks. 1874 II. 376 Good gentlemen Ingage me so far to you. 1648 Cromwell Lett. 8 Mar. (Carlyle), I am engaged to you for all your civilities. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 101/1 If thou protect him, thou wilt preserve our friend and infinitely engage us. |
† c. In pass.: To be ‘committed’ to (certain opinions). Obs.
| 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. iv. vi. 339 They are destitute of any satisfactory Evidence, to any person that is not strangely and impotently engaged to them. |
8. a. To urge, exhort, persuade, induce; said both of persons and of motives, etc. In 18th c. often approaching the sense of Fr. engager ‘to invite’. Now rare.
| 1647 Sprigge Anglia Rediv. iv. vii. (1854) 280 That all may be rather convinced and engaged by argument and truth. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 963 O..example high! Ingaging me to emulate. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xxii. 66 Her highness..when I left her, engaged me to write to her. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. I. viii. 166 He engaged the grand-master of the templars by large presents..to put him in possession of Gisors. 1791 Smeaton Edystone L. (1793) §313 The high wages..did not engage them to secure themselves with a sufficient stock of provisions. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. I. 105 He engaged them to declare in his favour. 1862 T. L. Kington Fredk. II, II. xiii. 171 Enzio had engaged the Castle..to surrender. |
† b. with n. of action as obj. Obs.
| 1742 Johnson L.P., Sydenham, The author which gave him most pleasure, and most engaged his imitation. |
9. a. To gain, win over, as an adherent or helper. Cf. 5 a. arch.
| 1697 Potter Antiq. Greece iii. vii. (1715) 65 Whom Paris had engagd to his Party by a large sum of Money. 1741 Watts Improv. Mind xv. (1801) 14 Engage the God of truth on our side. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 95 ¶19 Such is the hazard of..engaging reason against its own determinations. 1779 ― L.P., Blackmore Wks. III. 174 To engage poetry in the cause of virtue. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. ii. 372 For the sake of the bribes with which the Duan took care to engage him. |
† b. To secure for oneself (help, sympathy, approval). Obs.
| 1725 Pope Odyss. xiii. 345 Alcinous to persuade, To raise his wonder, and engage his aid. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. ii. 8 Those whose approbation we wish to engage. |
10. To attach by pleasing qualities; to attract, charm, fascinate. Cf. 14. Also absol. Now rare; cf. engaging ppl. a.
| 1711 Addison Spect. No. 106 ¶3 This Humanity and Good-nature engages every Body to him. a 1721 Prior (J.), When beauty ceases to engage. 1751 Chesterfield Lett. III. ccxlv. 126 If you engage his heart, you have a fair chance for imposing upon his understanding. 1773 Johnson Lett. 6 Sept. (1788) I. 126 She engaged me so much that I made her a present of Cocker's arithmetick. 1784 Cowper Tiroc. 147 If books that could engage Their childhood, pleased them at a riper age. 1814 Chalmers Evid. Chr. Revel. i. 22 Their heart is engaged by the amiable morality [of the gospel]. a 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. I. ii. iv. 257 Cicero engages our affections by the integrity of his public conduct. |
III. To cause to be held fast; to involve, entangle.
[The physical sense 11 (adopted from Fr.) appears to be a development from the sense ‘to put in pledge’ = 1. Senses 12– 16 are chiefly fig. applications of 11, but often influenced by the notion of branch II.]
11. In physical senses. a. To entangle, e.g. in a snare or net, in a bog. Obs. or arch.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. iii. 69 Oh limed soule, that strugling to be free, Art more ingag'd. 1603 Florio Montaigne (1634) 266 The Barble fishes, if one of them chance to be engaged. 1652 J. Wordsworth tr. Sandoval's Civil Wars of Spain 362 The Foot stuck fast, engaged in the mire to the very knees. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 625 Thou mayst..beamy Stags in Toils engage. |
| fig. 1631 Heywood London's Jus Hon. Wks. 1874 IV. 271 Upon them stand Two dangerous rocks, your safety to ingage. 1638 Ford Fancies v. i, Those ties of nature..How much they do engage. 1671 Milton P.R. iii. 347 That thou may'st know I seek not to engage Thy virtue. |
b. Arch. To fasten, attach. In pass. of a pillar: To be let into (a wall), so as to be partly enclosed. See engaged 2.
| 1766 Smollett Trav. 94 Twelve columns engaged in the wall. 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 4, I did not engage them to the Brace Beams. 1849 Ruskin Sev. Lamps iii. §10. 73 The lowest with its pillars engaged. 1865 Athenæum No. 1947. 230/3 The columns are ‘engaged’ to the square outer piers. 1877 A. B. Edwards Nile xviii. 495 Engaged in the brickwork on either side of the principal entrance to this hall are two stone door-jambs. |
c. Mech. (intr. for refl.) of a portion of machinery, as a cog-wheel, etc.: To interlock with, fit into a corresponding part.
| 1884 Pall Mall G. 28 Aug. 5/2 Engages with the cylinder and locks it for firing. |
12. † a. trans. To cause (esp. an armed force) to penetrate into the interior of a country, into a defile, mountain pass, etc. (so as render with- drawal difficult); also refl. (obs.). b. intr. † To enter into a country, etc. (obs.); to involve oneself in (an intricate path, etc.).
| 1645 Cromwell Lett. 9 Apr. (Carlyle), Lest we should engage our Body of Horse too far into that enclosed country. 1686–7 Burnet Trav. iii. (1750) 166 We engage into that Range of Hills that carry the Name of Apennines. 1693 Mem. Ct. Teckley iv. 55 The hardness of the Season, hindered him from engaging himself further into Transylvania. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I. 127 Mr. Bayham made an abrupt tack larboard, engaging in a labyrinth of stables. |
† 13. a. To entangle, involve, commit, mix up (in an undertaking, quarrel, etc.). Const. in, less often into, to, with. Obs.
| a 1586 Sidney (J.), So far had we engaged ourselves..that we listed not to complain. 1625 Bacon Ess. Travel (Arb.) 523 They will engage him into their owne Quarels. 1635 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 8 When she perceived the peril whereto its excess had engaged her. 1662–3 Sir C. Lyttelton in Hatton Corr. (1878) 29 For I was deeply engaged w{supt}{suph} him upon a planting interest. 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 217 These Follies had such Influence on the Rabble, As to engage them in perpetual Squabble. a 1714 Burnet Own Time (1823) I. 440 Into this the King of Sweden, then a child, was engaged: so it was called the triple alliance. 1727 Swift To Very Young Lady, To engage you, by his insinuations, in misunderstanding with your best friends. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VII. xvii. 272 He had engaged his city in the Achæan league. |
† b. intr. for refl. To entangle, involve, or mix oneself up. Const. in, less often among, into. Obs.
| 1657 S. W. Schism Dispach't 567 Yet hee will needs have mee engage into such questions. a 1667 Cowley Obscurity, If we engage into a large Acquaintance..we set open our gates to the Invaders of most of our time. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 36. ¶3 Much earlier than we engage among the actions and passions of mankind. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 208 The nation again engaged in debt. |
14. trans. To attract and hold fast (attention, interest); formerly also with personal obj., ‘to hold by the attention’ (J.). Cf. 10.
| 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. x. 286 Their Auditours, generally as engaged as the Disputants, will succour their Champion with partiall relations. 1691–8 Norris Pract. Disc. IV. 221 Nothing..fit to stay or ingage a Soul that is Capable of Enjoying God. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. i. (1737) III. 351 He admires, he contemplates; but is not yet ingag'd or interested. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 503 ¶2 Her form..engaged the eyes of the whole congregation in an instant. 1773 Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind (1774) I. 2, I will hope that your attention may be engaged, by Truths of the highest importance. 1832 H. Martineau Life Wilds Pref. 12 Will impress the memory and engage the interest. |
15. trans. To provide occupation for, employ (a person, his powers, thoughts, efforts, etc.). Now nearly always pass. Formerly also, † to make use of (an instrument).
| 1648 Gage West Ind. xx. (1655) 157 Beginning now to repent me of what I was now ingaged in. 1651 Life Father Sarpi (1676) 89 It would be necessary to engage a volume of praises. 1677 Moxon Mech. Exerc. (1703) 219 The Iron Pin in the Hole of the Beam kept it to its due distance from the Center; so that neither hand was ingaged to guide it. 1678 Bunyan Pilgr. i. Author's Apol., Behold how he ingageth all his Wits. 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) X. 5 Both Armies..Are in a bloody Fight engag'd. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters II. 31 It [is] a question which has engaged better heads and pens than mine. 1815 Scribbleomania 242 Mr. Dibdin is engaged in writing a list of the classical library of the Earl of Spencer. a 1847 Mrs. Sherwood Lady of Manor IV. xxvi. 246, I contrived to seem engaged with my guitar. 1864 J. H. Newman Apol. App. 11 Many of them are engaged on one subject. 1872 Raymond Statist. Mines & Mining 306 Producing excellent milling ore at a handsome profit to the men engaged in it. |
16. intr. for refl. ‘To embark in any business’ (J.); to enter upon or employ oneself in an action. Const. in, formerly on, upon, and simply. Cf. 13 b.
| 1646 Chas. 1 Ch. Govt. (1849) 43, I will not engage upon new questions not necessary for my purpose. 1671 Gumble Life Monck, In whatsoever condition he had engaged, he had found or made a great Fortune. 1672 Petty Pol. Anat. (1691) 47 The restored Irish.. will be careful how they engage any more upon a frivolous, impious Undertaking. 1732 Berkeley Serm. Wks. III. 241 Those who at this day engage in the propagation of the gospel. 1749 Chesterfield Lett. II. ccvii. 292 He engaged young and distinguished himself in business. 1825 Southey Paraguay iv. vi, Not desiring to engage Upon the busy world's contentious stage. 1830 R. Knox Béclard's Anat. Introd. 18 He had..engaged deeply in the study of languages. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 191 The government engaged in war with the United Provinces. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 364 If I had engaged in politics, I should have perished long ago. |
IV. With reference to combat. [Specialized uses of III.]
17. trans. Of combatants: To interlock (weapons). Cf. Fr. engager le fer, to cross swords. Also absol., as to engage in tierce, engage in quart.
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 341 The stooping Warriors..Engage their clashing Horns. 1833 [See engaging vbl. n.] 1881 Waite Sabre, Singlestick, etc. 101 A man thus armed engages in quarte or tierce. |
18. a. trans. To bring (troops) into conflict with the enemy. b. to engage a combat (rare; after Fr. engager le combat). c. intr. for refl.: To enter into combat (with); also fig.
| a. 1868 E. Edwards Ralegh I. ii. 30 [They] could scarcely have reached the camp before they found themselves engaged with the enemy. Mod. He had taken care not to engage the whole of his troops. |
| b. 1855 Motley Dutch Rep. v. v. (1866) 748 The mortal combat between the Inquisition and the Reformation was already fully engaged. Ibid. vi. i. 770 The fierce combat had already been engaged in the darkness. |
| c. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. 48 The earl of Holland was sent with a body of three thousand horse..to meet it [a party of the Scots army] and engage with it. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 509 East and West ingage, And at their Frontiers meet. Ibid. iii. 418 Ev'n the fearful Stag dares for his Hind engage. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) II. 239 On the outside is Fairfax himself on his chestnut horse, men engaging at a distance. 1783 Crabbe Village i. Wks. 1834 II. 81 That hoary swain, whose age Can with no cares except its own engage. 1823 Southey Hist. Penins. War I. 102 The mob..did not venture to engage against musketry and cannon with their knives. 1837 H. Martineau Soc. Amer. III. 59 One day he met a man muffled in a cloak, who engaged with him..and stabbed him. |
19. trans. (= ‘to engage with’: see 18.) To attack, enter into a combat with (an army, a ship); also (now rarely) fig.
| 1698–9 Ludlow Mem. I. 47 We lost..a favourable opportunity of engaging the enemy. 1704 Hearne Duct. Hist. (1714) I. 365 Tarquin..engaged the Romans, and was defeated. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 556 These monsters, Critics! with your darts engage. 1709 Lond. Gaz. No. 4547/2 He..was obliged to engage her to Leeward. 1748 Anson Voy. ii. xi. 252 We had not been inattentive to the means of engaging her to advantage. 1786 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) I. 549, I have engaged the abuses of the tobacco trade on a more general scale. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. I. 68 On the right bank of the river they were engaged by the Earls Edwin and Morcar. |