engage

Definition

To interact socially.

Etymology

From Middle English engagen, from Old French engagier (“to pledge, engage”), from Frankish *anwadjōn (“to pledge”), from Proto-Germanic *an-, *andi- + Proto-Germanic *wadjōną (“to pledge, secure”), from Proto-Germanic *wadją (“pledge, guarantee”), from Proto-Indo-European *wedʰ- (“to pledge, redeem a pledge; guarantee, bail”), 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.

Example Sentences

• "Thus ſhall mankind his guardian care engage, / The promis'd father of the future age."
• "the difficult task of engaging him in conversation"
• "Shapps refused to engage with the unions and claimed that the industrial disputes were nothing to do with him, despite controlling the purse strings."