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pledge

Pronunciation: /plɛd͡ʒ/

The English word “pledge” has 10 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To make a solemn promise (to do something).
  2. To deposit something as a security; to pawn.
  3. To give assurance of friendship by the act of drinking; to drink to one's health.

noun

  1. A solemn promise to do something.
  2. A promise to abstain from drinking alcohol.
  3. An asset or person temporarily handed over to guarantee the fulfilment of something promised, under threat of permanent loss of the thing handed over; surety, security, hostage.
  4. A bailment of personal property to secure payment of a debt without transfer of title.
  5. The personal property so pledged, to be kept until the debt is paid.
  6. A person who has taken a pledge of allegiance to a college fraternity, but is not yet formally approved.
  7. A drinking toast.

Etymology

From Middle English plege, from Anglo-Norman plege, from Old French plege (Modern French pleige) from Medieval Latin plevium, plebium, from plebiō (“to pledge”), from Frankish *plehan (“to pledge; to support; to guarantee”). Akin to Old High German pflegan (“to take care of, be accustomed to”), Old Saxon plegan (“to vouch for”), Old English plēon (“to risk, endanger”). More at plight.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.