The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 520
En*fee"ble (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enfeebled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enfeebling (?) .] [OF. enfeblir , enfeiblir ; pref. en- (L. in ) + feble , F. faible , feeble. See Feeble .] To make feeble; to deprive of strength; to reduce the strength or force of; to weaken; to debilitate.
Enfeebled by scanty subsistence and excessive toil. Prescott.
Syn. -- To weaken; debilitate; enervate.
Enfeeblement <Xpage=492>
En*fee"ble*ment (?) , n. The act of weakening; enervation; weakness.
Enfeebler <Xpage=492>
En*fee"bler (?) , n. One who, or that which, weakens or makes feeble.
Enfeeblish <Xpage=492>
En*fee"blish , v. i. To enfeeble. [Obs.]
Holland.
Enfeloned <Xpage=492>
En*fel"oned (?) , a. [Pref. en- + felon : cf. OF. enfelonner .] Rendered fierce or frantic. [Obs.] "Like one enfeloned or distraught."
Spenser.
Enfeoff <Xpage=492>
En*feoff" (?; see Feoff , 277) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enfeoffed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enfeoffing .] [Pref. en- + feoff , fief : cf. LL. infeofare , OF. enfeffer , enfeofer .]
1. (Law) To give a feud, or right in land, to; to invest with a fief or fee; to invest (any one) with a freehold estate by the process of feoffment.
Mozley & W.
2. To give in vassalage; to make subservient. [Obs.]
[The king] enfeoffed himself to popularity. Shak.
Enfeoffment <Xpage=492>
En*feoff"ment (?) , n. (Law) (a) The act of enfeoffing. (b) The instrument or deed by which one is invested with the fee of an estate.
Enfester <Xpage=492>
En*fes"ter (?) , v. t. To fester. [Obs.] " Enfestered sores."
Davies (Holy Roode).
Enfetter <Xpage=492>
En*fet"ter (?) , v. t. To bind in fetters; to enchain. " Enfettered to her love."
Shak.
Enfever <Xpage=492>
En*fe"ver (?) , v. t. [Pref. en- + fever : cf. F. enfi\'82vrer .] To excite fever in. [R.]
A. Seward.
Enfierce <Xpage=492>
En*fierce" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enfierced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enfiercing (?) .] To make fierce. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Enfilade <Xpage=492>
En`fi*lade" (?; 277) , n. [F., fr. enfiler to thread, go trough a street or square, rake with shot; pref. en- (L. in ) + fil thread. See File a row.]
1. A line or straight passage, or the position of that which lies in a straight line. [R.]
2. (Mil.) A firing in the direction of the length of a trench, or a line of parapet or troops, etc.; a raking fire.
Enfilade <Xpage=492>
En`fi*lade" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enfiladed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enfilading .] (Mil.) To pierce, scour, or rake with shot in the direction of the length of, as a work, or a line of troops.
Campbell.
Enfiled <Xpage=492>
En*filed" (?) , p. a. [F. enfiler to pierce, thread.] (Her.) Having some object, as the head of a man or beast, impaled upon it; as, a sword which is said to be " enfiled of" the thing which it pierces .
Enfire <Xpage=492>
En*fire" (?) , v. t. To set on fire. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Enflesh <Xpage=492>
En*flesh" (?) , v. t. To clothe with flesh. [Obs.]
Vices which are . . . enfleshed in him. Florio.
Enflower <Xpage=492>
En*flow"er (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enflowered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enflowering .] To cover or deck with flowers. [Poetic]
These odorous and enflowered fields. B. Jonson.
Enfold <Xpage=492>
En*fold" (?) , v. t. To infold. See Infold .
Enfoldment <Xpage=492>
En*fold"ment (?) , n. The act of infolding. See Infoldment .
Enforce <Xpage=492>
En*force" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enforced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enforcing (?) .] [OF. enforcier to strengthen, force, F. enforcir ; pref. en- (L. in ) + F. force . See Force .]
1. To put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel; as, to enforce obedience to commands .
Inward joy enforced my heart to smile. Shak.
2. To make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a passage . " Enforcing furious way."
Spenser.
3. To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.
As swift as stones Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. Shak.
4. To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy; as, to enforce arguments or requests .
Enforcing sentiment of the thrust humanity. Burke.
5. To put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to execute with vigor; as, to enforce the laws .
6. To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.
Enforce him with his envy to the people. Shak.
Enforce <Xpage=492>
En*force (?) , v. i.
1. To attempt by force. [Obs.]
2. To prove; to evince. [R.]
Hooker.
3. To strengthen; to grow strong. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Enforce <Xpage=492>
En*force" , n. Force; strength; power. [Obs.]
A petty enterprise of small enforce . Milton.
Enforceable <Xpage=492>
En*force"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being enforced.
Enforced <Xpage=492>
En*forced" (?) , a. Compelled; forced; not voluntary. " Enforced wrong." " Enforced smiles." Shak . -- En*for"ced*ly , adv.
Shak.
Enforcement <Xpage=492>
En*force"ment (?) , n. [Cf. OF. enforcement .]
1. The act of enforcing; compulsion.
He that contendeth against these enforcements may easily master or resist them. Sir W. Raleigh.
Confess 't was hers, and by what rough enforcement You got it from her. Shak.
2. A giving force to; a putting in execution.
Enforcement of strict military discipline. Palfrey.
3. That which enforces, constraints, gives force, authority, or effect to; constraint; force applied.
The rewards and punishment of another life, which the Almighty has established as the enforcements of his law. Locke.
Enforcer <Xpage=492>
En*for"cer (?) , n. One who enforces.
Enforcible <Xpage=492>
En*for"ci*ble (?) , a. That may be enforced.
Enforcive <Xpage=492>
En*for"cive (?) , a. Serving to enforce or constrain; compulsive. Marsion . -- En*for"cive*ly , adv.
Enforest <Xpage=492>
En*for"est (?) , v. t. To turn into a forest.
Enform <Xpage=492>
En*form" (?) , v. t. [F. enformer . See Inform .] To form; to fashion. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Enfouldred <Xpage=492>
En*foul"dred (?) , a. [Pref. en- + OF. fouldre , foldre , lightning, F. foudre , L. fulgur .] Mixed with, or emitting, lightning. [Obs.] "With foul enfouldred smoke."
Spenser.
Enframe <Xpage=492>
En*frame" (?) , v. t. To inclose, as in a frame.
Enfranchise <Xpage=492>
En*fran"chise (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enfranchised (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Enfranchising (?) .] [Pref. en- + franchise : cf. F. enfranchir .]
1. To set free; to liberate from slavery, prison, or any binding power.
Bacon.
2. To endow with a franchise; to incorporate into a body politic and thus to invest with civil and political privileges; to admit to the privileges of a freeman.
3. To receive as denizens; to naturalize; as, to enfranchise foreign words .
I. Watts.
Enfranchisement <Xpage=492>
En*fran"chise*ment (?) , n.
1. Releasing from slavery or custody.
Shak.
2. Admission to the freedom of a corporation or body politic; investiture with the privileges of free citizens.
Enfranchisement of copyhold (Eng. Law) , the conversion of a copyhold estate into a freehold.
Mozley & W.
Enfranchiser <Xpage=492>
En*fran"chis*er (?) , n. One who enfranchises.
Enfree <Xpage=492>
En*free" (?) , v. t. To set free. [Obs.] "The enfreed Antenor."
Shak.
Enfreedom <Xpage=492>
En*free"dom (?) , v. t. To set free. [Obs.]
Shak.
Enfreeze <Xpage=492>
En*freeze" (?) , v. t. To freeze; to congeal. [Obs.]
Thou hast enfrozened her disdainful breast. Spenser.
Enfroward <Xpage=492>
En*fro"ward (?) , v. t. To make froward, perverse, or ungovernable. [Obs.]
Sir E. Sandys.
Engage <Xpage=492>
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 .
Engage <Xpage=492>
En*gage" , v. i.
1. To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.
How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not. Fuller.
2. To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage in controversy .
3. To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle .
4. (Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.
Engaged <Xpage=492>
En*gaged" (?) , a.
1. Occupied; employed; busy.
2. Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed.
3. Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest.
4. Involved; esp., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged ships continued the fight .
Engaged column . (Arch.) Same as Attached column . See under Attach , v. t.
Engagedly <Xpage=492>
En*ga"ged*ly (?) , adv. With attachment; with interest; earnestly.
Engagedness <Xpage=492>
En*ga"ged*ness , n. The state of being deeply interested; earnestness; zeal.
Engagement <Xpage=492>
En*gage"ment (?) , n. [Cf. F. engagement .]
1. The act of engaging, pledging, enlisting, occupying, or entering into contest.
2. The state of being engaged, pledged or occupied; specif., a pledge to take some one as husband or wife.
3. That which engages; engrossing occupation; employment of the attention; obligation by pledge, promise, or contract; an enterprise embarked in; as, his engagements prevented his acceptance of any office .
Religion, which is the chief engagement of our league. Milton.
4. (Mil.) An action; a fight; a battle.
In hot engagement with the Moors. Dryden.
5. (Mach.) The state of being in gear; as, one part of a clutch is brought into engagement with the other part .
Syn. -- Vocation; business; employment; occupation; promise; stipulation; betrothal; word; battle; combat; fight; contest; conflict. See Battle .
Engager <Xpage=492>
En*ga"ger (?) , n. One who enters into an engagement or agreement; a surety.
Several sufficient citizens were engagers . Wood.
Engaging <Xpage=492>
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 ∨ 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.
Engallant <Xpage=492>
En*gal"lant (?) , v. t. To make a gallant of. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
Engaol <Xpage=492>
En*gaol" (?) , v. t. [Pref. en- + gaol : cf. OF. engaoler , engeoler . See Gaol , and cf. Enjail .] To put in jail; to imprison. [Obs.]
Shak.
Engarboil <Xpage=492>
En*gar"boil (?) , v. t. [Pref. en- + garboil .] To throw into disorder; to disturb. [Obs.] "To engarboil the church."
Bp. Montagu.
Engarland <Xpage=492>
En*gar"land (?) , v. t. [Pref. en- + garland : cf. F. enguirlander .] To encircle with a garland, or with garlands.
Sir P. Sidney.
Engarrison <Xpage=492>
En*gar"ri*son (?) , v. t. To garrison; to put in garrison, or to protect by a garrison.
Bp. Hall.
Engastrimuth <Xpage=492>
En*gas"tri*muth (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/ in + <?/ belly + <?/ to speak: cf. F. engastrimythe .] An ventriloquist. [Obs.]
Engender <Xpage=492>
En*gen"der (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Engendered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Engendering .] [F. engender , L. ingenerare ; in + generare to beget. See Generate , and cf. Ingenerate .]
1. To produce by the union of the sexes; to beget. [R.]
2. To cause to exist; to bring forth; to produce; to sow the seeds of; as, angry words engender strife .
Engendering friendship in all parts of the common wealth. Southey.
Syn. -- To breed; generate; procreate; propagate; occasion; call forth; cause; excite; develop.
Engender <Xpage=492>
En*gen"der , v. i.
1. To assume form; to come into existence; to be caused or produced.
Thick clouds are spread, and storms engender there. Dryden.
2. To come together; to meet, as in sexual embrace. "I saw their mouths engender ."
Massinger.
Engender <Xpage=492>
En*gen"der (?) , n. One who, or that which, engenders.
Engendrure <Xpage=492>
En`gen*drure" (?) , n. [OF. engendreure .] The act of generation. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Engild <Xpage=492>
En*gild" (?) , v. t. To gild; to make splendent.
Fair Helena, who most engilds the night. Shak.
Engine <Xpage=492>
En"gine (?) , n. [F. engin skill, machine, engine, L. ingenium natural capacity, invention; in in + the root of gignere to produce. See Genius , and cf. Ingenious , Gin a snare.]
1. (Pronounced, in this sense, <?/<?/<?/<?/.) Natural capacity; ability; skill. [Obs.]
A man hath sapiences three, Memory, engine , and intellect also. Chaucer.
2. Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.
Shak.
You see the ways the fisherman doth take To catch the fish; what engines doth he make? Bunyan.
Their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust. Shak.
3. Any instrument by which any effect is produced; especially, an instrument or machine of war or torture. "Terrible engines of death."
Sir W. Raleigh.
4. (Mach.) A compound machine by which any physical power is applied to produce a given physical effect.
Engine driver , one who manages an engine; specifically, the engineer of a locomotive. -- Engine lathe . (Mach.) See under Lathe . -- Engine tool , a machine tool. J. Whitworth . -- Engine turning (Fine Arts) , a method of ornamentation by means of a rose engine.
&hand; The term engine is more commonly applied to massive machines, or to those giving power, or which produce some difficult result. Engines, as motors, are distinguished according to the source of power, as steam engine , air engine , electro-magnetic engine ; or the purpose on account of which the power is applied, as fire engine , pumping engine , locomotive engine ; or some peculiarity of construction or operation, as single-acting or double-acting engine , high-pressure or low-pressure engine , condensing engine , etc.
Engine <Xpage=492>
En"gine , v. t.
1. To assault with an engine. [Obs.]
To engine and batter our walls. T. Adams.
2. To equip with an engine; -- said especially of steam vessels; as, vessels are often built by one firm and engined by another .
3. (Pronounced, in this sense, <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/.) To rack; to torture. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Engineer <Xpage=492>
En`gi*neer" (?) , n. [OE. enginer : cf. OF. engignier , F. ing\'82nieur . See Engine , n. ]
1. A person skilled in the principles and practice of any branch of engineering. See under Engineering , n.
2. One who manages as engine, particularly a steam engine; an engine driver.
3. One who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance; an efficient manager. [Colloq.]
Civil engineer , a person skilled in the science of civil engineering. -- Military engineer , one who executes engineering works of a military nature. See under Engineering .
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Engineer <Xpage=493>