Engage Definition

ĕn-gāj

engaged, engages, engaging

verb

engaged, engages, engaging

To arrange for the services of; hire; employ.

To engage a lawyer.

Webster's New World

To pledge oneself; promise; undertake; agree.

To engage to do something.

Webster's New World

To bind (oneself) by a promise; pledge; specif. (now only in the passive), to bind by a promise of marriage; betroth.

He is engaged to Ann.

Webster's New World

To arrange for the use of; reserve.

To engage a hotel room.

Webster's New World

To attract and hold (the attention, etc.)

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

adjective

Committed to supporting some aim, cause, etc.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Origin of Engage

From Middle French engagier, from Old French engager (“to pledge, engage”), from Old Frankish *anwadjōn (“to pledge”), from Proto-Germanic *an-, *andi- + Proto-Germanic *wadjōną (“to pledge, secure”), from Proto-Germanic *wadjō (“pledge, guarantee”), from Proto-Indo-European *wadʰ- (“to pledge, redeem a pledge; guarantee, bail”), equivalent to en- +‎ gage. Cognate with Old English anwedd (“pledge, security”), Old English weddian (“to engage, covenant, undertake”), German wetten (“to bet, wager”), Icelandic veðja (“to wager”). More at wed.

From Wiktionary
Middle English engagen to pledge something as security for repayment of debt from Old French engagier en- in en–¹ gage pledge of Germanic origin

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
French past participle of engager to engage from Old French engagier to pledge engage

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition