v.
1. tr. employ or hire (a person).
2 tr. a (usu. in passive) employ busily; occupy (are you engaged tomorrow?). b hold fast (a person's attention).
3 tr. (usu. in passive) bind by a promise, esp. of marriage.
4 tr. (usu. foll. by to + infin.) bind by a contract.
5 tr. arrange beforehand to occupy (a room, seat, etc.).
6 (usu. foll. by with) Mech. a tr. interlock (parts of a gear etc.); cause (a part) to interlock. b intr. (of a part, gear, etc.) interlock.
7 a intr. (usu. foll. by with) (of troops etc.) come into battle. b tr. bring (troops) into battle. c tr. come into battle with (an enemy etc.).
8 intr. take part (engage in politics).
9 intr. (foll. by that + clause or to + infin.) pledge oneself.
10 tr. (usu. as engaged adj.) Archit. attach (a column) to a wall.
11 tr. (of fencers etc.) interlock (weapons).
Derivatives:
engager n.
Etymology: F engager, rel. to GAGE(1)