Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   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.

   3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to
      draw.

            Good nature engages everybody to him. --Addison.

   4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to
      engross; to draw on.

            Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. --Pope.

            Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging
            him in conversation.                  --Hawthorne.

   5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to
      conflict.

            A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy.
                                                  --Ludlow.

   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.

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.

   {Engaging and disengaging} {gear or 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.

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.

Source : WordNet®

engaging
     adj : attracting or delighting; "an engaging frankness"; "a
           piquant face with large appealing eyes" [syn: {piquant}]