engaged

Engaged is the past participle of engage and functions as an adjective with several related meanings. As a verb, engage means to occupy, involve, or hire someone, or to pledge or commit someone to a course of action. In the sense of marriage, to be engaged means to have promised to marry a partner. As an adjective, engaged describes someone who is involved in a task or activity, or something that is in operation or connected to another component, such as a gear that is engaged.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French engager, from gage "pledge." The early sense centered on pledges and commitments and broadened over time to cover involvement, employment, and obligation.

Usage: In everyday speech, “the line is engaged” means the telephone line is busy; “I am engaged on a project” means I am occupied. In social contexts, “they are engaged” indicates an impending marriage. In mechanical contexts, “engaged” indicates that two components are connected and transmitting motion. The related noun is engagement, and the verb form is to engage; the adjective form expressing charm is engaging.

See also: engagement, disengage, engaging.