Engaged
“Engaged” 可作表语:指两人已订婚;也可表示注意力或精力投入到某项活动(be engaged in)。在正式语境中还可指电话线路“占线”,但日常学习以前两种为主。
- “They got engaged last spring and plan a small wedding.” (他们去年春天订婚,打算办一场小型婚礼。)
- “She is fully engaged in her research this semester.” (她这学期全身心投入研究。)
- “The students were engaged in a lively debate about climate policy.” (学生们正就气候政策展开热烈辩论。)
源自古法语 engagier(保证、使承担义务),与 “gage”(抵押、保证)同源;现代义由“许下承诺”延伸到订婚与专注投入。
前缀 “en-” 表示“使进入某种状态”,词根与 engage 相关,过去分词作形容词 “-ed”。
在英语国家,宣布 “We’re engaged!” 常伴随戒指与社交媒体分享;职场里 “engaged employees” 指积极参与工作的员工,是人力资源常用表述。
- 固定搭配: “get engaged” (订婚), “engaged in” (忙于;参与), “engaged to” (与某人订婚)
- 动词原形: engage
“gage” 像“抵押”:订婚就是把未来押给彼此的承诺——engaged。
“After hiking to the summit, Leo got down on one knee; they were engaged with the whole valley as their witness.” (爬到山顶后,利奥单膝跪下;他们在整片山谷的见证下订婚了。)