Engine — Defs

01 n. Natural capacity; ability; skill.

1.
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; a machine; an agent.
“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.
4.
A compound machine by which any physical power is applied to produce a given physical effect.(Mach.)

Phrases & compounds

Engine driver — one who manages an engine; specifically, the engineer of a locomotive.

Engine lathe — See under Lathe.

Engine tool — a machine tool.

Engine turning — a method of ornamentation by means of a rose engine.

02 v. t. To assault with an engine.

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.]