engage

Meaning

Verb

• To interact socially.
• To interact antagonistically.
• To interact contractually.
• To interact mechanically.
• To enter into (an activity), to participate (construed with in).
• To entangle.

Related

Opposite words

• disengage

Origin

• From Middle English engagen, from Old French engagier, from Frankish *anwadjōn, from Proto-Germanic *an-, *andi- + Proto-Germanic *wadjōną, from Proto-Germanic *wadją, from Proto-Indo-European *wedʰ-, 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.