%engag%

v. i. To release one's self; to become detached; to free one's self. [ 1913 Webster ]

From a friends's grave how soon we disengage! Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not engaged; free from engagement; at leisure; free from occupation or care; vacant. -- Dis`en*ga"ged*ness n. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Pref. dis- + engagement: cf. F. désengagement. ] 1. The act of disengaging or setting free, or the state of being disengaged. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is easy to render this disengagement of caloric and light evident to the senses. Transl. of Lavoisier. [ 1913 Webster ]

A disengagement from earthly trammels. Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Freedom from engrossing occupation; leisure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Disengagement is absolutely necessary to enjoyment. Bp. Butler. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Loosing; setting free; detaching. [ 1913 Webster ]

Disengaging machinery. See under Engaging. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (O. Eng. Law) The tenure by which a drench held land. [ Obs. ] Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Engaged p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging ] [ F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See Gage. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw. [ 1913 Webster ]

Good nature engages everybody to him. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict. [ 1913 Webster ]

A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. Ludlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant. [ 1913 Webster ]

How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage in controversy. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Occupied; employed; busy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Involved; esp., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged ships continued the fight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Engaged column. (Arch.) Same as Attached column. See under Attach, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With attachment; with interest; earnestly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being deeply interested; earnestness; zeal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. engagement. ] 1. The act of engaging, pledging, enlisting, occupying, or entering into contest. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being engaged, pledged or occupied; specif., a pledge to take some one as husband or wife. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which engages; engrossing occupation; employment of the attention; obligation by pledge, promise, or contract; an enterprise embarked in; as, his engagements prevented his acceptance of any office. [ 1913 Webster ]

Religion, which is the chief engagement of our league. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mil.) An action; a fight; a battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

In hot engagement with the Moors. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mach.) The state of being in gear; as, one part of a clutch is brought into engagement with the other part.

Syn. -- Vocation; business; employment; occupation; promise; stipulation; betrothal; word; battle; combat; fight; contest; conflict. See Battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who enters into an engagement or agreement; a surety. [ 1913 Webster ]

Several sufficient citizens were engagers. Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to draw the attention or affections; attractive; as, engaging manners or address. -- En*ga"ging*ly, adv. -- En*ga"ging*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Engaging and disengaging gear or
Engaging and disengaging machinery, that in which, or by means of which, one part is alternately brought into gear or out of gear with another part, as occasion may require. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A kind of plum of medium size, roundish shape, greenish flesh, and delicious flavor. It is called in France Reine Claude, after the queen of Francis I. See Gage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Withdrawal from the activities of a group.
Syn. -- nonparticipation, non-involvement. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preëngaged p. pr. & vb. n. Preëngaging ] To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy. [ 1913 Webster ]

But he was preëngaged by former ties. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Prior engagement, obligation, or attachment, as by contract, promise, or affection. [ 1913 Webster ]

My preëngagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To engage a second time or again. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A renewed or repeated engagement. [ 1913 Webster ]