All 6 Uses of
engage
in
To Kill a Mockingbird
- He evidently remembered he was engaged to me, for he ran back out and kissed me swiftly in front of Jem.
p. 62.5 *engaged = formally promised to be married
- Atticus strolled over to Miss Maudie's sidewalk, where they engaged in an arm-waving conversation, the only phrase of which I caught was "…erected an absolute morphodite in that yard!"
p. 77.2engaged = participated
- There went with the house the usual legend about the Yankees: one Finch female, recently engaged, donned her complete trousseau to save it from raiders in the neighborhood; she became stuck in the door to the Daughters' Staircase but was doused with water and finally pushed through.
p. 92.0engaged = entered into an agreement to marry
- Still in wrist manacles, he wandered two miles out of Meridian where he discovered a small animal show and was immediately engaged to wash the camel.
p. 158.9 *engaged = hired
- Aunt Alexandra got up from the table and swiftly passed more refreshments, neatly engaging Mrs. Merriweather and Mrs. Gates in brisk conversation.
p. 266.6 *engaging = involving
- Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me.
p. 317.8 *disengaged = untangled from his previous positionstandard prefix: The prefix "dis-" in disengaged means not or opposite. It reverses the meaning of engaged as seen in words like disagree, disconnect, and disappear.
Definitions:
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(1)
(engage as in: engage in conversation) to interact in various ways -- such as to participate, involve, interest, or attractThe exact meaning of this sense of engage depends upon its context. For example:
- "They engaged in debate." -- participated
- "She engaged him in conversation." -- involved
- "She is an engaging conversationalist." -- interesting
- "She has an engaging smile." -- attractive (attracting interest and interaction)
- "The proposal engages the interest of many young voters." -- attracts and involves
- "She engages with her constituents." -- interacts in a meaningful way
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(2)
(engage as in: engage her services) hire, reserve, book, or occupy
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(3)
(engaged as in: engaged and then married) promised to marry
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(4)
(engage as in: engage the enemy) begin fighting
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(5)
(engage as in: engage the gears) move into position to work; or start
- (6) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)