En"gine (?), n. [F. engin skill,
machine, engine, L. ingenium natural capacity, invention;
in in + the root of gignere to produce. See
Genius, and cf. Ingenious, Gin a snare.]
1. (Pronounced, in this sense, &?;&?;&?;&?;.)
Natural capacity; ability; skill. [Obs.]
A man hath sapiences three,
Memory, engine, and intellect also.
Chaucer.
2. Anything used to effect a purpose; any
device or contrivance; an agent. Shak.
You see the ways the fisherman doth take
To catch the fish; what engines doth he make?
Bunyan.
Their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all
these engines of lust.
Shak.
3. Any instrument by which any effect is
produced; especially, an instrument or machine of war or
torture. "Terrible engines of death." Sir W.
Raleigh.
4. (Mach.) A compound machine by which
any physical power is applied to produce a given physical
effect.
Engine driver, one who manages an engine;
specifically, the engineer of a locomotive. -- Engine
lathe. (Mach.) See under Lathe. --
Engine tool, a machine tool. J.
Whitworth. -- Engine turning (Fine
Arts), a method of ornamentation by means of a rose
engine.
&fist; The term engine is more commonly applied to massive
machines, or to those giving power, or which produce some difficult
result. Engines, as motors, are distinguished according to the source
of power, as steam engine, air engine, electro-
magnetic engine; or the purpose on account of which the power is
applied, as fire engine, pumping engine, locomotive
engine; or some peculiarity of construction or operation, as
single-acting or double-acting engine, high-
pressure or low-pressure engine, condensing engine,
etc.
En"gine, v. t. 1.
To assault with an engine. [Obs.]
To engine and batter our walls.
T. Adams.
2. To equip with an engine; -- said
especially of steam vessels; as, vessels are often built by one firm
and engined by another.
3. (Pronounced, in this sense,
&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;.) To rack; to torture. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
