gag
Old Frenchpledge, engage, pawn
About This Root
From Old French gager (to pledge, wager), of Frankish Germanic origin. The "pledge" sense evolved into engagement: engage (to pledge oneself), engaged (committed), engagement (a pledge or appointment), and disengage (to release from a pledge). The modern gag (to silence) is a separate, onomatopoeic word, though gage as a pledge survives in legal contexts.
Associated Words · 7
engage
To participate in something; to hire; to begin fighting
engagement
An agreement to marry; a formal appointment; active involvement
gag
To retch or suppress speech; a device or order preventing speech
disengage
To release or detach from something; to withdraw from involvement
gage
A pledge or security; to offer as a pledge or wager
engaging
Charming and attractive; holding one's interest
engaged
Having agreed to marry; busy or occupied; deeply involved