Part 737

En*fran"chise*ment (?), n. 1. Releasing from slavery or custody. Shak.

2. Admission to the freedom of a corporation or body politic; investiture with the privileges of free citizens.

Enfranchisement of copyhold (Eng. Law), the conversion of a copyhold estate into a freehold. Mozley & W.

En*fran"chis*er (?), n. One who enfranchises.

En*free" (?), v. t. To set free. [Obs.] "The enfreed Antenor." Shak.

En*free"dom (?), v. t. To set free. [Obs.] Shak.

En*freeze" (?), v. t. To freeze; to congeal. [Obs.]

Thou hast enfrozened her disdainful breast.

Spenser.

En*fro"ward (?), v. t. To make froward, perverse, or ungovernable. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

En*gage" (?), 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.

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.

3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.

Good nature engages everybody to him.

Addison.

4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.

Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage.

Pope.

Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation.

Hawthorne.

5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.

A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy.

Ludlow.

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.

En*gage", v. i. 1. To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.

How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not.

Fuller.

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.