engage English · revision 5701

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1430|origins=fro engagier}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/, US /enˈɡeɪdʒ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English engagen, [[bor|frm|engagier]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Old French engagier “to bind by promise, pledge, pawn”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from the phrase en gage “under pledge”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|fro|en-]] and [[m|fro|gage|t=pledge]] (see [[gage]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) which came through Frankish from [[gem-pro|*wadiją|alt=*wadiare|t=pledge]] (see [[wed]]).^(Etymonline) The Germanic w- became g- in central French, as in [[guard]] and [[ward]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To pledge something as security: 1430 in Barnhart, in the Proceedings of the Privy Council; the OED's first quotation is 1525.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From pledging property the word came to mean pledging one's life or honour (1568), binding a person by contract (1603) and involving someone (before 1586).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) To attract and hold the attention is from 1642, the 1640s in Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) to employ or secure for use is from 1648 (1753 in the OED for hiring servants),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and to enter into combat with from the 1640s.^(Etymonline) The promise to marry is implied in ''engaged'' from 1615 and is used of the verb from 1727, in Fielding.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The meshing of machine parts is from 1884.^(Etymonline) ''Engagement'' is from 1624, and as a promise of marriage from 1742 in the plural and 1859 in the singular, in Dickens's letters.^(Barnhart 1988) The French past participle ''engagé'', politically committed, is from 1946.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1430 – to pledge.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1603 – to bind by contract.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – ''engaged'', betrothed.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1640s – to attract; to fight.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1648 – to employ.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1727 – to betroth.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1884 – of machine parts, to mesh.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To attract and hold someone's interest or attention.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(engage in)'' To take part or become involved in something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To [[employ]] someone, or arrange to use something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To begin fighting an [[enemy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of parts of a machine, to fit together or [[mesh]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(formal)'' To promise or undertake to do something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[engager]]

+ * [[disengage]]

+ * [[disengagement]]

+ * [[engagement]]

+ * [[preengage]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gage]]

+ * [[wage]]

+ * [[wed]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}