en|gine

en|gine¹ «EHN juhn», noun.

1. a machine for applying power to some work, especially a machine that can start others moving.

2. a machine that pulls a railroad train; locomotive.

3. anything used to bring about a result; instrument or device: »

Cannons are engines of war.

4. = fire engine. (Cf. ↑fire engine)

5. Obsolete. an artifice; device; plot; means: »

Nor did he 'scape By all his engines (Milton).

╂[< Old French engin skill, cleverness < Latin ingenium inborn qualities, talent < in- in + gen-, root of gignere to beget, produce. Compare etym. under genius (Cf. ↑genius), ingenious. (Cf. ↑ingenious)]

–en´gine|less, adjective.

en|gine² «EHN juhn», transitive verb, -gined, -gin|ing.

1. to furnish with an engine or engines.

2. Obsolete. to contrive or plan.

╂[< Old French enginier < Medieval Latin ingeniare < Latin ingenium; see etym. under engine¹ (Cf. ↑engine)]