Engine \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.
Note: 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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