en·gage ( n-g j )v. en·gaged, en·gag·ing, en·gag·es v.tr. 1. To obtain or contract for the services of; employ: engage a carpenter. 2. To arrange for the use of; reserve: engage a room. See Synonyms at book. 3. To pledge or promise, especially to marry. 4. To attract and hold the attention of; engross: a hobby that engaged her for hours at a time. 5. To win over or attract: His smile engages everyone he meets. 6. To draw into; involve: engage a shy person in conversation. 7. To require the use of; occupy: Studying engages most of my time. 8. To enter or bring into conflict with: We have engaged the enemy. 9. To interlock or cause to interlock; mesh: engage the automobile's clutch. 10. To give or take as security. v.intr. 1. To involve oneself or become occupied; participate: engage in conversation. 2. To assume an obligation; agree. 3. To enter into conflict or battle: The armies engaged at dawn. 4. To become meshed or interlocked: The gears engaged. [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.] en·gag er n. |
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