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. 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. 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. 3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.
Good nature engages everybody to him. Addison. 4. 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. 5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.
A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. Ludlow. 6. 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.