engaged - See: HIGH-CLASS, SECOND CLASS.

engaged - adjective and noun (People and Society) adjective: Discriminating against a person or group of people because of their social class; class-prejudiced. noun : A person who holds class prejudices or advocates class discrimination. Etymology: Formed by adding the suffix -ist (as in racist and sexist) to class; the corresponding -ism (classism) is a much older word, going back to the middle of the nineteenth century. History and Usage: This word belongs to the debate about social attitudes and motivations which resulted from the feminist movement of the second half of the seventies. The user called another participant in the conversation 'a classist' for arguing that (particular) middle class values and behaviors were superior. American Speech Summer 1988, p. 183

engaged - n. & v.
--n.

1 any set of persons or things grouped together, or graded or differentiated from others esp. by quality (first class; economy class).
2 a a division or order of society (upper class; professional classes). b a caste system, a system of social classes. c (the classes) archaic the rich or educated.
3 colloq. distinction or high quality in appearance, behaviour, etc.; stylishness.
4 a a group of students or pupils taught together. b the occasion when they meet. c their course of instruction.
5 US all the college or school students of the same standing or graduating in a given year (the class of 1990).
6 (in conscripted armies) all the recruits of a given year (the 1950 class).
7 Brit. a division of candidates according to merit in an examination.
8 Biol. a grouping of organisms, the next major rank below a division or phylum.

--v.

tr. assign to a class or category.

class-conscious aware of and reacting to social divisions or one's place in a system of social class. class-consciousness this awareness. class-list Brit. a list of candidates in an examination with the class achieved by each. class war conflict between social classes. in a class of (or on) its (or one's) own unequalled. no class colloq. lacking quality or distinction. [L classis assembly]

engaged - adj. & n.
--adj.

1 a of the first class; of acknowledged excellence. b remarkably typical; outstandingly important (a classic case).
2 a of ancient Greek and Latin literature, art, or culture. b (of style in art, music, etc.) simple, harmonious, well-proportioned; in accordance with established forms (cf. ROMANTIC).
3 having literary or historic associations (classic ground).
4 (of clothes) made in a simple elegant style not much affected by changes in fashion.

--n.

1 a classic writer, artist, work, or example.
2 a an ancient Greek or Latin writer. b (in pl.) the study of ancient Greek and Latin literature and history. c archaic a scholar of ancient Greek and Latin.
3 a follower of classic models (cf. ROMANTIC).
4 a garment in classic style.
5 (in pl.) Brit. the classic races.

classic races Brit. the five main flat races, namely the Two Thousand and the One Thousand Guineas, the Derby, the Oaks, and the St Leger. [F classique or L classicus f. classis class]

engaged - adj.
1 a of ancient Greek or Latin literature or art. b (of language) having the form used by the ancient standard authors (classical Latin; classical Hebrew). c based on the study of ancient Greek and Latin (a classical education). d learned in classical studies.
2 a (of music) serious or conventional; following traditional principles and intended to be of permanent rather than ephemeral value (cf. POPULAR, LIGHT). b of the period from c.1750-1800 (cf. ROMANTIC).
3 a in or following the restrained style of classical antiquity (cf. ROMANTIC). b in or relating to a long-established style.
4 Physics relating to the concepts which preceded relativity and quantum theory.

classicalism n. classicalist n. classicality n. classically adv. [L classicus (as CLASSIC)]

engaged - n.
1 the following of a classic style.
2 a classical scholarship. b the advocacy of a classical education.
3 an ancient Greek or Latin idiom.

classicist n.

engaged - See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, BY WORD OF MOUTH, EAT ONE'S WORDS, FROM THE WORD "GO", GET A WORD IN, GET THE MESSAGE or GET THE WORD, HANG ON THE WORDS OF, IN BRIEF or IN A WORD, IN SO MANY WORDS, LAST WORD, MAN OF FEW WORDS, MAN OF HIS WORD, MUM IS THE WORD, PLAY ON WORDS, PUT WORDS INTO ONE'S MOUTH, SAY THE WORD, SWALLOW ONE'S WORDS, TAKE AT ONE'S WORD, TAKE THE WORDS OUT OF ONE'S MOUTH, WEASEL WORD, WEIGH ONE'S WORDS.

engaged - {adv. phr.} In exactly the same words. * /Mary copied Sally's composition word for word./ * /Joan repeated the conversation word for word./ * /She learned the poem many years ago but she recited it word for word./

engaged - {n. phr.} Communication by oral rather than written means. * /The merchant told us that the best customers he had were recommended to him by word of mouth./

engaged - {n. phr.} A word of warning or advice which the intelligent person is expected to follow. - A proverb. * /I had once spoken to him about being late all the time, and thought that a word to the wise was enough./

engaged - {n. phr.} Language that makes the meaning very clear; simple, or frank language. - Usually used after "in". * /Mary explained the job to Ann in words of one syllable so that she would be sure to understand./ * /Some people say that John is cute and mischievous, but in words of one syllable, he's just a brat./ Compare: IN SO MANY WORDS, SPELL OUT.

engaged - n. & v.
--n.

1 a sound or combination of sounds forming a meaningful element of speech, usu. shown with a space on either side of it when written or printed, used as part (or occas. as the whole) of a sentence.
2 speech, esp. as distinct from action (bold in word only).
3 one's promise or assurance (gave us their word).
4 (in sing. or pl.) a thing said, a remark or conversation.
5 (in pl.) the text of a song or an actor's part.
6 (in pl.) angry talk (they had words).
7 news, intelligence; a message.
8 a command, password, or motto (gave the word to begin).
9 a basic unit of the expression of data in a computer.

--v.

tr. put into words; select words to express (how shall we word that?).

at a word as soon as requested. be as good as (or better than) one's word fulfil (or exceed) what one has promised. break one's word fail to do what one has promised. have no words for be unable to express. have a word (often foll. by with) speak briefly (to). in other words expressing the same thing differently. in so many words explicitly or bluntly. in a (or one) word briefly. keep one's word do what one has promised. my (or upon my) word an exclamation of surprise or consternation. not the word for it not an adequate or appropriate description. of few words taciturn. of one's word reliable in keeping promises (a woman of her word). on (or upon) my word a form of asseveration. put into words express in speech or writing. take a person at his or her word interpret a person's words literally or exactly. take a person's word for it believe a person's statement without investigation etc. too ... for words too ... to be adequately described (was too funny for words). waste words talk in vain. the Word (or Word of God) the Bible. word-blind incapable of identifying written or printed words owing to a brain defect. word-blindness this condition. word-deaf incapable of identifying spoken words owing to a brain defect. word-deafness this condition. word for word in exactly the same or (of translation) corresponding words. word-game a game involving the making or selection etc. of words. word of honour an assurance given upon one's honour. word of mouth speech (only). word order the sequence of words in a sentence, esp. affecting meaning etc. word-painting a vivid description in writing. word-perfect knowing one's part etc. by heart. word-picture a piece of word-painting. word processor a purpose-built computer system for electronically storing text entered from a keyboard, incorporating corrections, and providing a printout. words fail me an expression of disbelief, dismay, etc. word-square a set of words of equal length written one under another to read the same down as across (e.g. too old ode). a word to the wise = VERB. SAP.

wordage n. wordless adj. wordlessly adv. wordlessness n. [OE f. Gmc]