Engaging vbl. sb.

[f. as prec. + -ING¹.] The action of the vb. ENGAGE, in various senses. Also attrib., as in engaging guard (Mil.).

1

1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), I. 10/1. The engaging the parliament … to make a war.

2

1680. Burnet, Rochester, 111. The ingaging into much Passion.

3

1803. Capt. Bissell, in Naval Chron., XI. 241. This kind of engaging lasted more than an hour.

4

1833. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, I. 138. Forming quickly his ‘Engaging Guard’ to any point required. Ibid., I. 147. Engaging,… the action of joining the sword of an opponent, either previous to his, or your own attack.

5