Dictionary-Definition.com :: Engaging definition

Definition of 'engaging'

adjective

Attracting or delighting; "an engaging frankness"; "a piquant face with large appealing eyes" [syn: engaging, piquant]

From: GCIDE

Engage \En*gage"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging.] [F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See Gage.]
1. To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise. "I to thee engaged a prince's word." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service. [1913 Webster]
3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw. [1913 Webster]
Good nature engages everybody to him. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on. [1913 Webster]
Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]
5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict. [1913 Webster]
A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. --Ludlow. [1913 Webster]
6. (Mach.) To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Engaging \En*ga"ging\, a. Tending to draw the attention or affections; attractive; as, engaging manners or address. -- {En*ga"ging*ly}, adv. -- {En*ga"ging*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
Engaging and disengaging gear or {Engaging and disengaging machinery}, that in which, or by means of which, one part is alternately brought into gear or out of gear with another part, as occasion may require. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Encage \En*cage"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging.] [Pref. en- + cage: cf. F. encager.] To confine in a cage; to coop up. --Shak. [1913 Webster]