Actively involved or participating in an activity. Also refers to the formal agreement to marry, or to being occupied or busy with something.
From Old French engagier meaning 'to pledge', from en- (in) + gage (pledge, security). The marriage sense developed from the idea of pledging oneself, while the general activity meaning emerged from being 'pledged' to a task.
The word reveals how engagement - whether to a person or an activity - involves a pledge or promise of attention. We 'engage' gears in machinery the same way we 'engage' in conversation - through active connection and commitment.
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