engaging

Adjective

Synonyms: piquant

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (1)

attracting or delighting“an engaging frankness”“a piquant face with large appealing eyes”Synonyms: piquant

Webster's Dictionary (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]

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]

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]