[orig. a. OF. engin-ier, engyner, corresp. to Pr. engenhar, OSp. engeñar, Pg. engenhar, It. ingegnare:—med.L. ingeniāre, f. ingenium: see prec.; in later use f. ENGINE sb.]
† 1. trans. To contrive, plan, either in a material or an immaterial sense. Also absol. with inf. of purpose. To engine together: to frame or fit together by art. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 250. For gygas þe geaunt · with a gynne engyned To breke & to bete doune · þat ben aȝeines ihesus.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 79. With fair beheste and yeftes grete Of gold, that they hem have engined Togider.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, II. li. (1859), 54. The synne That thou hast done was … not by very malyce engyned of withynne.
c. 1570. Trynne, Pride & Lowl. (1841), 10. With golden lace ful craftely engined.
1609. Bp. W. Barlow, Answ. Nameless Cath., 198. The most horrible designe (for Sauage Cruelty) that euer was engined, and that also from Iesuites.
1611. Florio, Aggegnare, to frame … to engine together.
† 2. To take by craft; to ensnare, deceive. Obs.
c. 1325. Body & Soul, in Map’s Poems 249 (M.). Ho may more trayson do, or is loverd betere engine Than he that al is trist is to.
1340. Ayenb., 123. Alle þo … þet habbeþ … þe herten engined ine þe dyevles nette.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 71. A softe bedde … Where she was afterward engined.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1501. His tung he gan to whet Sotilly to engyne hym.
3. † a. To put on the rack; to torture. † b. To assault with engines. c. nonce-use. To find engines or instruments for.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Priest’s T., 240. The mynistres of that toun … the hostiller sore engyned.
1613. T. Adams, Pract. Wks. (1861), I. 29 (D.). We fear not … professed enemies to engine and batter our walls.
1820. Keats, Hyperion, II. 161. Tell me … How we can war, how engine our great wrath!
4. To fit up (a vessel) with steam engines.
1868. Express, 20 May. The Victoria, iron-clad frigate … engined by Messrs. John Penn and Son.
1872. Daily News, 5 Sept., 5/5. Build the largest ironclad ships, engine them, and arm them.
1882. W. Hedley, 36. On December 3rd [1881], the first vessel built, engined, and masted above Newcastle, passed down the river.
