3  definitions  found 
 
  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  1.6  [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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