Also 7–8 in-. [f. as prec. + -MENT.]
I. The action of engaging; the state, condition or fact of being engaged.
† 1. The pledging or mortgaging (of property); a mortgage, ‘encumbrance.’ Obs.
1630. Brathwait, Eng. Gentlewom. (1641), 351. And preserv’d his patrimony from ingagement?
1656. H. Phillips, Purch. Patt. (1676), 58. An House or Land … free from all ingagements.
2. A formal promise, agreement, undertaking, covenant.
In 17th c. applied spec. to various political compacts, esp. to the secret treaty negotiated at Carisbrooke in 1647 between Charles I. and commissioners representing the Scottish government. See ENGAGER 2.
1624–47. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 24. He had my ingagement to preach the Sunday following.
1646. E. F[isher], Mod. Divinity, 22. The parties that were bound, are freed and released from their ingagements.
1651. N. Riding Rec., V. 96. The engagement was in theis words:—‘I doe declare,’ [etc.].
1662. D. Dickson, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxvi. This Psalm is a threefold engagement of the Psalmist unto thanksgiving unto God.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, IV. 209. Such is your Will, and such seem to be your Ingagements.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 28. The engagement and pact of society, which generally goes by the name of the constitution.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xvii. 178. An engagement was drawn up…, and brought to me with the signatures of all the company.
b. An ‘appointment’ made with another person for any purpose of business, festivity, etc.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), VI. iii. Starting for a long ride on a dinner engagement.
1831. Disraeli, Yng. Duke, I. II. iii. 144 (L.). We damsels shall soon be obliged to carry a book to enrol our engagements as well as our bets, if this system of reversionary dancing be any longer encouraged.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 24. 170. I … would have spent the night there were it not for my engagement with the Guide Chef.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 122. Then, if you have no engagement, suppose that you sit down and tell me what passed.
1886. Sat. Rev., 6 March, 328/1. On the following morning he [a racehorse] was found to be … incapable of fulfilling an engagement.
c. Comm. in pl. Promises to pay; pecuniary liabilities. In phrase, To meet one’s engagements.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 215. They were consequently unable to meet their own engagements.
Mod. We regret to inform you that Mr. A. B. is unable to meet his engagements.
d. The fact of being engaged to be married; betrothal. Also attrib.
[1742. Fielding, J. Andrews (1743), I. iv. 125 (L.). She knew her Engagements to Horatio.]
1859. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 86. Much excited and pleased by your account of your daughter’s engagement.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., 22. She [Sarah] held her engagement to him at an end.
1884. Q. Victoria, More Leaves, 103. Our blessed Engagement Day! A dear and sacred day.
3. The fact of being engaged by an employer; an ‘appointment,’ salaried post.
1884. Mrs. Kendal, in Daily News, 24 Sept., 6/1. He had decided to go on the stage, and all that he wanted was an engagement.
Mod. Immediately after his engagement as secretary. He has obtained a lucrative engagement.
† 4. Moral or legal obligation; a tie of duty or gratitude. Obs.
1627. Massinger, Gt. Dk. Florence, V. ii. (1636), K j b. Since my engagements are so great, that all My best endevours to appeare your creature Can but proclaime my wants.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 416. There is no engagement from God upon any of his people, to run themselves into sufferings wilfully.
1726. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., III. 257. He is known to lie under deep Engagements to that Party.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 294. Engagement and inclination equally led me to pass a considerable part of every day in this agreeable society.
† b. Attachment, prepossession, bias. Cf. ENGAGE v. 7 c, 10. Obs. rare.
1689. Burnet, Tracts, I. 77. The ingagement that People have to their native Homes appears signally here.
1708. Swift, Sentiment Ch. Eng. Man. Impartially and without engagement … to examine their actions.
† 5. The fact of being entangled; involved or entangled condition. Obs.
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect. (1851), 325. From which mortall ingagement wee shall never be free.
1648. Gage, West Ind., xx. (1655), 158. Who had been the cause of their ingagement in that great danger.
1648. Symmons, Vind. Chas. I., 335. I thought it to be a matter of so great ingagement.
6. The fact of being engaged in any occupation; a piece of business requiring attention.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., xiv. 80. By the most close meditation and engagement of our minds.
a. 1729. J. Rogers, 19 Serm., xi. (1735), 213 (J.). Play, either by our too constant or too long Engagement in it, becomes like an Employment or Profession.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 513. From all his wearisome engagements freed.
7. Swordsmanship. The action of crossing swords. See ENGAGE 17.
1889. J. M. Waite, Sabre, Singlestick, &c. 19. On crossing swords, which should be about nine inches from each other’s point, when it is called an equal engagement, press your blade [etc.].
8. The state of being engaged in fight; a battle, conflict. encounter; also formerly, a single combat.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., II. xv. (1669), 160. He will never despair of Victory in an ingagement, where he may justly hope to have God for his Second, and Heaven for his Reward.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Ded. Your supposed death in that engagement was so generally lamented through the nation.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4685/2. We daily expect to hear of an Engagement between the Swedish and Danish Fleets in the Baltick.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. ix. 180. It was the first engagement in which they were confronted with the future enemies of their nation.
† II. 9. concr. in active sense: That which engages or induces to a course of action; an inducement, motive. Cf. ENGAGE v. 8. Obs.
1642. J. M[arsh], Argt. conc. Militia, 12. What stronger ingagement can there be, then this, to incourage and spurre men forward, in any desperate designe?
1680. Burnet, Rochester (1692), 95. The great expressions of his Love in Dying for us, are mighty Engagements to Obey and Imitate him.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 173. The great Motives and Ingagements to Obedience.
