Engagement German · revision 36078

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1656, a letter of Elector Charles Louis of the Palatinate|origins=fr gage}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ãɡaʒ(ə)ˈmãː/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Engagement''' ''n'' (genitive Engagements, plural Engagements)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|engagement|t=pledging, commitment]], a noun of [[m|fr|engager|t=to bind, pledge]], properly “to take into one's pay”, which was formed from [[m|fr|gage|t=pledge, wages]] with the prefix [[m|fr|en-]].^(Kluge 2011|246)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge dates the borrowing to the 17th century, and the Deutsches Fremdwörterbuch to the middle of that century.^(Kluge 2011|246)^(DFWB) The verb [[engagieren]] came into German at the same time, with the ending [[m|de|-ieren]] given to foreign verbs.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) The sense “political or military commitment” was taken again from [[en|engagement]], with an English pronunciation.^(Kluge 2011|246) The same French word was borrowed as [[nl|engagement]], [[sv|engagemang]] and [[nb|engasjement]].^(Kluge 2011|246) [[Gage]] “fee, salary” is the French base word.^(Kluge 2011|246)^(Pfeifer 1993)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The revised Grimms' dictionary has an isolated early record of 1656 in a letter of the Elector Palatine Charles Louis, in the general sense “binding obligation”: ''daß ewer churfl. durchl. daß engagement mit mir bereüwen solten'' (that Your Electoral Highness should regret the engagement with me).^(DWB2|8, 1318)^(DFWB) A glossary of 1695 renders it ''Dienstannehmung'', “taking into service”.^(DFWB)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the general sense “obligation, tie” the word narrowed to engagement in service: in 1733 it is used of recruiting soldiers; from the late 18th century it was used above all of an actor's or singer's contract with a theatre.^(DFWB)^(DWB2|8, 1318) Goethe writes in 1795 of a man who had to look for an ''Engagement'' to please his wife, who hoped for applause on the stage.^(DWB2|8, 1318) Pfeifer dates the theatrical sense to the early 19th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) From the late 18th century it could also mean an invitation to dance, now dated.^(DFWB) From the later 19th century, in business, it meant a financial commitment or investment.^(DFWB)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ The sense now most common, personal commitment to a cause out of conviction, dates from the middle of the 20th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) It follows the participle [[engagiert]], which from the middle of the 19th century meant “personally involved”; from it the reflexive ''sich engagieren'' “to commit oneself” developed at the beginning of the 20th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Mid-17th century – Borrowed from French.^(DFWB)^(Kluge 2011|246)

+ * 1656 – Isolated record in the sense “binding obligation”.^(DWB2|8, 1318)

+ * 1733 – Used of the engagement of soldiers.^(DWB2|8, 1318)

+ * Late 18th century – An actor's or singer's contract;^(DFWB) Goethe uses it in 1795.^(DWB2|8, 1318)

+ * Later 19th century – A financial commitment in business.^(DFWB)

+ * Mid-20th century – “Personal commitment to a cause”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Personal [[m|en|commitment]] to a cause, from conviction or a sense of obligation: ''ihr Engagement für den Tierschutz''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A professional engagement or [[m|en|contract]], especially of an actor, singer or artiste: ''Der Tenor bekam ein Engagement in Hamburg.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(dated)'' An invitation to dance.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)

+ # ''(stock exchange)'' An obligation to take and pay for securities bought, or to deliver those sold, on a fixed date.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)

+ # ''(fencing)'' Contact between the blades.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[engagieren]]

+ * [[engagiert]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Gage]]

+ * [[en|engagement]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}