engaged etymology

Etymology

The word "engaged" derives from the Middle English word "engagen," itself derived from the Old French word "engager," meaning "to pledge" or "to bind." The ultimate origin is the Latin word "vindicare," meaning "to claim."

Meaning

In its original sense, "engaged" meant to be bound by a legal or moral obligation. Over time, it acquired a wider range of meanings, including:

• Occupied: To be involved in an activity or task.
• Committed: To be pledged or given to a person or cause.
• Married or engaged to be married: To be in a relationship with a person to whom one is committed.
• Engrossed: To be deeply involved in something.

Origin

The concept of being engaged has its roots in ancient legal systems. In Roman law, for example, "vindicatio" referred to a formal claim to property or a legal right. This idea of binding oneself to a commitment later evolved into the concept of an engagement in marriage, where two people pledge themselves to be bound together.

The term "engaged" was first used in English in the 14th century to refer to a betrothal or marriage pledge. By the 16th century, it had also come to mean "occupied" or "involved in something." The meaning of "engaged" as "married or engaged to be married" emerged in the 18th century.

engaged relate terms

• engage

  Etymology From Middle English enwagen from Old English onweagian On on upon

• engaged

  Etymology The word engaged derives from the Middle English word engagen itself deriv

• busy

  Etymology Middle English busye from Anglo Norman French busye ultimately from Old Fr

• set aside

  Letter Sequence S E T A S I D E T Y M O L O G Y M E A N I N G A N D O R I G I N Sylla

• militant

  Etymology The term militant originates from the Latin word militans meaning fightin

• speculative

  Speculative Etymology Speculative etymology is the derivation of words based on hypotheti

• pensive

  Etymology The word pensive originates from the Old French word pensif which means t

• morale

  Etymology Old French moralité Latin moralis Indo European root mer to think pond

• operant

  Etymology Operant is derived from the Latin word operari meaning to work or to oper

• rivet

  Etymology Old Norman French rivét Latin rivāre to rivet to fix Proto Indo Europe

• fight

  Etymology From Middle English fighten fighte from Old English feohtan to fight f

• procure

  Etymology The word procure comes from the Latin word procurare which means to take