To voluntarily join a cause or organization, especially military service.
The army wants potential soldiers to enlist.
3
To recruit the aid or membership of others.
We enlisted fifty new members.
“The Emperor visited east-central China (江與京洛), and enlisted 400,000 soldiers and 500 Wu ships to cross the seas and go to P’ing-jang, (the Kao-li capital).”1890, E. H. Parker, “On Race Struggles in Corea”, in Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, volume XVIII, Tokyo: The Hakubunsha, →OCLC, page 218:
4
To secure; to obtain.
They enlisted the government's support.
“I have tried, as I hinted, to enlist the co-operation of other capitalists, but experience has taught me that any appeal is futile that does not impinge directly upon cupidity. […]”1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
One who is enlisted, usually in a military service.
[…] 19.17% are enlisted officers (including cadets and midshipmen with BA degrees and associate degrees, officers Designated Military Occupational Specialty, the enlists converting into conscripts], officers from ROTCs) ; 0.31% are conscripted […]2006, USA International Business Publications, Taiwan National Security And Defense Law And Regulations Handbook: