Hypertext Webster Gateway: "engage"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Engage \En*gage"\, v. 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 controversy.
3. To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies
engaged in a general battle.
4. (Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Engage \En*gage"\, 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.
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 part.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
engage
v 1: carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in;
"She pursued many activities"; "They engaged in a
discussion" [syn: {prosecute}, {pursue}]
2: engage or engross wholly; "Her interest in butterflies
absorbs her completely" [syn: {absorb}, {engross}, {occupy}]
3: engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in
the department"; "How many people has she employed?" [syn:
{hire}, {employ}] [ant: {fire}]
4: as to represent; of legal counsel; "I'm retaining a lawyer"
[syn: {retain}]
5: give to, in marriage [syn: {betroth}, {affiance}, {plight}]
6: get caught; as of gears [ant: {disengage}]
7: as of wars, battles, or campaigns; "Napoleon and Hitler
waged war against all of Europe" [syn: {wage}]
8: as of aid, help, services, or support [syn: {enlist}]
9: engage in a commercial transaction; "We took an apartment on
a quiet street"; "Let's rent a car"; "Shall we take a
guide in Rome?" [syn: {lease}, {rent}, {hire}, {charter},
{take}]
10: keep engaged; "engaged the gears" [syn: {mesh}, {lock}, {operate}]
[ant: {disengage}]
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