plight
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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to pledge (one's troth) in engagement to marry.
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to bind (someone) by a pledge, especially of marriage.
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to give in pledge, as one's word, or to pledge, as one's honor.
noun
verb
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to give or pledge (one's word)
he plighted his word to attempt it
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to promise formally or pledge (allegiance, support, etc)
to plight aid
-
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to make a promise of marriage
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to give one's solemn promise
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noun
noun
Related Words
See predicament.
Other Word Forms
- plighter noun
- unplighted adjective
Etymology
Origin of plight1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English plit “fold, condition, bad condition,” from Anglo-French (cognate with Middle French pleit plait ) “fold, manner of folding, condition”; spelling apparently influenced by plight 2 in obsolete sense “danger”
Origin of plight2
First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English; Old English pliht “danger, risk”; cognate with Dutch plicht, German Pflicht “duty, obligation”; (verb) Middle English plighten, Old English plihtan (derivative of the noun) “to endanger, risk, pledge”; cognate with Old High German phlichten “to engage oneself,” Middle Dutch plihten “to guarantee”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sheffield Wednesday have never returned since losing their top-flight spot in 2000, with their sorry plight well documented.
From BBC
Their plight at the hugely unpopular and vast former athletics track is well documented, with fans pining for Upton Park's intimidating atmosphere.
From BBC
Honda's plight has brought back painful memories of a decade ago.
From BBC
Farmers' unions engaged a US lobbying firm late last year to raise their plight in Washington in the hopes of a funding breakthrough, according to a public disclosure filing.
From Barron's
Personal tragedy had no more importance than the incognizant plight of insects.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
