engager French · revision 15881

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1150, Wace|origins=frk *waddi}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɑ̃.ɡa.ʒe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''engager'''^(Wiktionary)

+ [[fro|engagier]], [[m|fro|enguagier]].^(AND)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|fr|en-|gage|t2=pledge]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|17, 444b) first as [[m|fro|engagier]].^(DHLF 1992) The noun [[gage]] is from [[frk|*waddi|t=pledge]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary) Medieval Latin had parallel formations: [[la-med|ingnadio|alt=se ingnadiare]] “to pledge oneself” (811) and [[m|la-med|invadio|alt=invadiare]] “to pawn” (1063).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Cognate with [[oc|engatjar]] and [[it|ingaggiare]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Wace uses it about 1150 in his ''Life of Saint Nicholas'' in the sense “to put in pledge, pawn”.^(TLFi)^(AND)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century it took the figurative sense “to make (something) enter into a place that holds it fast” (1559, Amyot), and, from 1580 Montaigne uses it of being caught up in a situation.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The sense “to pledge (one's word), bind by a promise” appears in 1595 (''engager sa foy'').^(TLFi) From the idea of entering came “to begin, open” (''engager la conversation'') and “to urge (someone to do something)”, both from the late 16th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) D'Aubigné uses it (1616–1620) for enlisting soldiers;^(TLFi) the sense “to take into one's service, hire” spread in the 19th century (1835).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ Around 1945 the reflexive ''s'engager'' came to mean “to take a stand on political questions”, with ''engagé'' “committed” and ''littérature engagée''.^(DHLF 1992) The verb was borrowed into [[de|engagieren]] and [[it|ingaggiare]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – “To pawn” in Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1559 – “To thrust into” in Amyot.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – Montaigne is ''engagé'' “caught up” in excesses.^(TLFi)

+ * 1595 – ''Engager sa foy'' “to pledge one's word”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1616–1620 – “To enlist” in d'Aubigné.^(TLFi)

+ * 1835 – “To take into service”, in the Académie.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1945 – ''S'engager'' “to take a political stand”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|pawn]], put in pledge: ''engager ses bijoux''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To bind by a promise or [[m|en|commitment]]: ''cela n'engage à rien''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To [[m|en|hire]], take on; to enlist (soldiers).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To insert, make enter: ''engager la clé dans la serrure''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To begin, open (negotiations, a conversation, a battle).^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To urge (someone to do something).^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To invest or commit (money, resources).^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To commit oneself; to enlist; to take a political stand.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[engagement]]

+ * [[engagiste]]

+ * [[engagé]]

+ * [[engageant]]

+ * [[rengager]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gage]]

+ * [[dégager]]

+ * [[gager]]

+ * [[en|engage]]

+ * [[en|wage]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}