pre-engagementn.adj.
/ˌpriːᵻnˈɡeɪdʒm(ə)nt/, /ˌpriːɛnˈɡeɪdʒm(ə)nt/, /ˌpriːᵻŋˈɡeɪdʒm(ə)nt/, /ˌpriːɛŋˈɡeɪdʒm(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌpriᵻnˈɡeɪdʒm(ə)nt/ A. n.† 1. A previous or already existing tie or claim on one's attention; a preoccupation. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [noun] > business claiming attention > previous
pre-engagement1643
1643 M. Newcomen Jerusalems Watch-men 33 If..laying by all pre-ingagements to your own opinions, desires, ways, ye shall willingly, and unanimously, consent to that which..hall be found to be the way and truth of God
1646 J. Whitaker Danger of Greatnesse 38 That we may..lay down all preingagements at the foot of the throne of Jesus Christ.
1685 R. Boyle Short Mem. Hist. Mineral Waters 61 My want of health, and my preingagement to some Subjects that I am more concern'd for.
2.
a. The action of pre-engaging someone or something; the fact of being already or previously engaged; an instance of this, an engagement or commitment previously given or made.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > engagement
tailyec1425
trystc1480
appointment1533
restipulation1595
pre-engagement1647
ingudgment1650
sponsion1677
engagement1806
commitment1837
date1885
booking1975
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > [noun] > one who binds > in advance
pre-engagement1647
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 177 One that came to the Crown without preingagement by promise or Covenant.
1647 O. Cromwell in C. L. Stainer Speeches (1901) 44 It is such a pre-engagement that there is no need of talk of the thing.
1659 W. Montagu Shepheard's Paradise ii. 33 The Prince..had offered her marriage, which she had excused the acceptation of, by a pre-engagement of her faith.
1751 tr. Female Foundling II. 35 Luckily, my Son, your Father has no fixed Views for you at present; he has no Pre-engagement, and consequently no Promise to recal.
1796 Ld. Auckland Corr. (1862) III. 359 Stating to me his..pre-engagement in disposing of the present vacancy in office.
1830 Times 17 Feb. 3/5 Ministers went into the enquiry without any pre-engagement as to the particular course they should adopt.
1853 Ladies' Repository Jan. 3/1 [He] invited me to remain for dinner... I, however, excused myself on the ground of a preëngagement.
1897 ‘A. Hope’ Phroso i Two chairs had been tilted up in token of preëngagement.
1924 Dict. Mod. Music & Musicians 435 During his career he was offered engagements at Paris, Vienna, Naples and Petrograd, which he was unable to accept owing to pre-engagements.
2005 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 30 June f5 For various reasons, such as pre-engagements and lack of the necessary volunteer staff, no one was able to sign up.
b. spec. A previous or prior engagement to be married. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > [noun] > previous or pre-existing
pre-contract1483
pre-engagement1671
1671 B. Whitelocke Diary 26 Aug. (1990) 777 Letters from brother Willson, of Mr Turners..agreem[en]t w[i]th him for his daughter to marry Sam, butt there was a preingagem [en] t to one Mr Bodenham.
1684 Scanderbeg Redivivus iii. 26 The Lady, being then very young, and asham'd to own her pre-engagement.
1815 Zeluca II. 146 As he prefers you, he has broken a pre~engagement with me.
1864 Littell's Living Age 16 Apr. 125/2 [They] think no more of a declaration of love than an invitation to dinner; nor have the slightest difficulty in making the same excuse to either,—a pre-engagement.
B. adj. Originally U.S.
Existing or occurring prior to engagement; spec. prior or preparatory to being engaged to be married; of or relating to a promise to become engaged to be married, esp. in pre-engagement ring.
ΚΠ
1910 Indianapolis Star 30 Nov. 6/4 Little entertainments (usually with pointed reference to the engagement and pre-engagement days) fill up the evening hours.
1948 J. K. Folsom in Family, Marriage, & Parenthood vii. 236 Present-day conditions call for a code of courtship mores in which possessiveness is completely eliminated in the pre-engagement period and less rigid even after engagement.
1965 Times 9 Sept. 11/6 The ubiquitous pre-engagement agreements to assign all patents without compensation..to the firm is against the law in some..countries.
1974 Washington Post 28 July g6/1 A year ago he bought me a pre-engagement ring but our parents will not give us their blessing until Mike graduates from college and is established.
1988 Oilman (Nexis) Dec. 20 A substantial increase in 'pre-engagement' training for roustabouts, catering for unemployed persons in the Grampian region.
2000 M. Gibbon Swimming Sweet Arrow 69 It wasn't some chintzy pre-engagement job but a real, full-fledged ring.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1643