Re: CHAT: Hymn to Ikea (was: Re: Re: CHAT: F.L.O.E.S.

Tommie L . Powell wrote:
>
> However, we certainly use it plenty as a verb (as past tense
> of "engage" and with forms of "to be" in all tenses).
>
Yes we do; it seems to me to have slightly pejorative connotations--
"The Corleone Family is engaged in......"
"The administration has engaged in a vast cover-up...."

whereas "My brother is engaged in the food and wine industry" sounds quite
mealy-mouthed.

The military usage of course is alive and well.  Just today on the radio, I
heard a soldier in Iraq discussing how "Our tank engaged the building on the
corner of the street"  which struck me as quite odd.............