ppl. a. Also 7–8 unin-. [UN-1 8.]
† 1. Unimpeded. Obs.–1
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., To Rdr. 2 b. From which free and un-ingaged prospect both he and they may … behold the later … changes in exterior matters of Religion.
2. Not bound or committed in any way (esp. by a pledge or promise).
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Modest Offer, 2. Both the Houses of Parliament … stand yet free, and unengaged to any part.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. (1703), 110. ’Tis my humble Opinion, that they should keep their Inclinations unengaged.
1757. W. Wilkie, Epigon., V. 148. The truce subsists with all the rest; are we Alone excepted, unengag’d and free?
b. spec. Not bound by an engagement or promise to marry; not betrothed.
1702. Vanbrugh, False Friend, III. i. His Behaviour wou’d engage any thing that were unengag’d.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem., I. 217. He was handsome, he was young:… She was innocent and uningag’d.
1814. Scott, Wav., lviii. An alliance, which to an unengaged person,… holds out too many charms to be lightly laid aside.
1877. Sir H. Taylor, Autobiog. (1885), I. 218. He consented to our seeing more of one another on an unengaged footing.
† 3. Not committed to a special view or opinion; unprejudiced. Obs.
1653. Milton, Hirelings, Wks. 1851, V. 338. If it suffic’d … to convince … the uningag’d of other Nations in the justice of your doings.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 401. Persons of more free and un-ingaged minds, and that use not to believe without asking themselves why.
4. Not hired.
1654. Dorothy Osborne, Lett. (1888), 293. He is commended to me … for a most excellent servant…. I’ll keep him unengaged till I hear from you.
1889. Gunter, That Frenchman, xiii. She chances to find an unengaged cab.
5. Not occupied or busied (in something).
1712. Pope, Lett. (1735), I. 187. If your Thoughts are unengaged, I shall explain myself further.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xlv. The activity of Rasselas did not leave much time unengaged.
1800. Mrs. Hervey, Mourtray Fam., II. 78. Her companion, who wandered about … unengaged in any pursuit.
1819. Crabbe, T. of Hall, IV. 187. I took a trip, But duty none, in a relation’s ship; Thus, unengaged, I felt my spirits light.
b. Disengaged from.
1805. Emily Clark, Banks of Douro, II. 300. The first moment she was unengaged from Minette and Lady Archdale, she resolved to go and see them.
c. Not occupied or involved in fighting.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson, 39. The ships … were … unengaged in the contest.
1895. A. Forbes, in Daily News, 18 Feb., 6/3. Mr. Herbert, in his redoubt in the centre of the Grivitza heights, remained unengaged until 4 p.m.
6. a. Not appropriated or allocated to a particular purpose.
1712. Swift, Conduct of Allies, Wks. 1774, II. 143. When we have sunk the only unengaged revenues we had left, our incumbrances must remain of necessity perpetual.
b. Not assigned to a person.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., xci. Some profitable places were at that time vacant, and, as far as he knew, unengaged.
1755. Johnson, Lett. to Richardson, 3 Feb., in Pearson’s Catal. (1900), 44. If you have any parts of the Universal History yet unengaged I know a gentleman desirous of giving his assistance.
