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

4. (Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.

En*gaged" (?), a. 1. Occupied; employed; busy.

2. Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed.

3. Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest.

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

Engaged column. (Arch.) Same as Attached column. See under Attach, v. t.

En*ga"ged*ly (?), adv. With attachment; with interest; earnestly.

En*ga"ged*ness, n. The state of being deeply interested; earnestness; zeal.

En*gage"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. engagement.] 1. The act of engaging, pledging, enlisting, occupying, or entering into contest.

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

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.

Religion, which is the chief engagement of our league.

Milton.

4. (Mil.) An action; a fight; a battle.

In hot engagement with the Moors.

Dryden.

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.

En*ga"ger (?), n. One who enters into an engagement or agreement; a surety.

Several sufficient citizens were engagers.

Wood.

En*ga"ging (?), a. Tending to draw the attention or affections; attractive; as, engaging manners or address. -- En*ga"ging*ly, adv. - - En*ga"ging*ness, n.

Engaging and disengaging gear or 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.

En*gal"lant (?), v. t. To make a gallant of. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

En*gaol" (?), v. t. [Pref. en- + gaol: cf. OF. engaoler, engeoler. See Gaol, and cf. Enjail.] To put in jail; to imprison. [Obs.] Shak.

En*gar"boil (?), v. t. [Pref. en- + garboil.] To throw into disorder; to disturb. [Obs.] "To engarboil the church." Bp. Montagu.

En*gar"land (?), v. t. [Pref. en- + garland: cf. F. enguirlander.] To encircle with a garland, or with garlands. Sir P. Sidney.