Both Uses
engage
in
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
(Edited)
- It was a great surprise to Scrooge, while listening to the moaning of the wind, and thinking what a solemn thing it was to move on through the lonely darkness over an unknown abyss, whose depths were secrets as profound as Death: it was a great surprise to Scrooge, while thus engaged, to hear a hearty laugh.
p. 80.7engaged = involved
- The mother and her daughters were engaged in sewing.
p. 108.9 *
Definitions:
-
(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
- "She engaged in foolish behavior." -- entered into
-
(2)
(engage as in: engage her services) hire, reserve, book, or occupy
-
(3)
(engaged as in: engaged and then married) promised to marry
-
(4)
(engage as in: engage the enemy) begin fighting
-
(5)
(engage as in: engage the gears) move into position to work; or start
- (6) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)