ENGAGED • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Engaged

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/ɛngˈeɪdʒd/ Listen

verb

Engage v. t. (past & past part. engaged; pres. part. engaging)

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."

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."

4.

To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on. "Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage." "Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation."

5.

To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict. "A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy."

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.

Engage 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."

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.

adjective

Engaged adj.

1.

Occupied; employed; busy.

2.

Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed.

3.

Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest.

4.

Involved; esp., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged ships continued the fight.

Engaged column. (Arch.) Same as Attached column. See under Attach, v. t.

See images of 'Engaged'

Etymology of 'Engaged'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Engaged" Quotes from Famous Books

... in fine literature—describes him as a brave battler with intolerance, hypocrisy, and confused conceptions in religion; with empty subtleties, obscurities, and terminologies, that can but issue in vain fantasies, in his controversial writings on the 'so-named critical philosophy.' He engaged with the Kritik der reinen Vernunft, on its appearance in 1781, in the Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek; first explained his objections to it in the 11th vol. of his Reisebeschreibung, (Description of a ...

— The Prose Works of William Wordsworth • William Wordsworth

... Liverpool, and the question was put as to where we would stop. We said we would go to the "Northwestern," at Lime street, as that was the Hotel where Americans generally stopped at. When we got there the house was full and they could not let us in. Every room was engaged. But this friend said, "I am going to stay here. I engaged a room ahead. I sent a telegram on." My friends, that is just what the Christians are doing—sending their names in ahead. They are sending a message up saying: "Lord Jesus, I want one of those mansions You are ...

— Moody's Anecdotes And Illustrations - Related in his Revival Work by the Great Evangilist • Dwight L. Moody

... subject to me again. You remember how I promised your father that if he would let me make my home with you, he should never live to regret it? Do you think that I intend to repay the dearest wish of his heart in this way? Why, Mr. David, you are engaged to marry Kate." She took up the water-pail ...

— 'Way Down East - A Romance of New England Life • Joseph R. Grismer

... right. There is really a population of over 12,000 men and boys afloat all the year round on the North Sea, engaged in the arduous work of daily supplying the London and other markets ...

— The Young Trawler • R.M. Ballantyne

... vehemence with which he demanded their contempt deprived him of much of his force as a critic, for they justly wondered why a man should waste his lifetime in attacking them if they were indeed so worthless. Actually, they felt, Dale was a great deal more engaged with his audience than many of the imaginative writers whom he affected to despise for their sycophancy. And, especially towards the end of his life when his powers perhaps were weakening, the devices which he used ...

— The Ghost Ship • Richard Middleton

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