pledge

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A serious, formal promise to do something.

   The government made a pledge to cut carbon emissions.

2. 2
   verb

   To promise solemnly and formally to do something.

   She pledged to support the charity for life.

3. 3
   verb

   To promise to give money, especially to a charity.

   I pledged ten dollars a month to my favorite radio station.

4. 4
   noun

   Something left with someone as security for a debt.

   He left his watch as a pledge until he could repay the loan.

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.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images