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pledge Definition

pledge (plej)

noun

  1. the condition of being given or held as security for a contract, payment, etc. a thing held in pledge
  2. a person or thing given or held as security for the performance of a contract, as a guarantee of faith, etc.; something pawned; hostage
  3. a token or earnest
  4. a drinking to someone's health to express good will or allegiance; toast
  5. a promise or agreement
  6. something promised, esp. money to be contributed in regular payments
  7. ☆ a person undergoing a trial period before formal initiation into a fraternity, sorority, etc.

Etymology: ME plegge < OFr pleige < ML plegium < plevium, security, warranty, infl. by Frank *pligi, liability; akin to OS plegan, to warrant

transitive verb pledged, pledg′·ing

  1. to present as security or guarantee, esp. for the repayment of a loan; pawn
  2. to drink a toast to
  3. to bind by a promise or agreement
  4. to promise to give to pledge allegiance, pledge money to a fund
  5. ☆
    1. to accept tentative membership in (a fraternity, etc.)
    2. to accept as a pledge ()

pledge Idioms

take the pledge

to take a vow not to drink alcoholic liquor

pledge Synonyms

pledge

n.

guarantee, promise, token, pawn, earnest, hostage, security, collateral, surety, warrant, warranty, guaranty, gage, agreement, oath, word, word of honor, assurance, vow, solemn word, commitment, obligation, covenant, compact, contract, bail, bond, escrow; see also promise.

pledge, in this comparison, applies to anything given as security for the performance of an act or contract or for the payment of a debt he gave her a ring as a pledge; earnest applies to anything given or done as an indication, promise, or assurance of more to follow her early triumphs are an earnest of her success; token is used of anything serving or given as evidence of authority, genuineness, good faith, etc. this watch is a token of our gratitude; pawn now usually refers to an article left as security for the money lent on it by a pawnbroker; hostage is applied to a person handed over as a pledge for the fulfillment of certain terms or one seized and kept to force others to comply with demands

take the pledge

vow, swear off, go on the wagon; see promise 1.

pledge Synonyms

pledge

v.

  1. To give security

    sign for, pawn, give bond; see guarantee 2.

  2. To promise

    swear, vow, vouch; see promise 1.

pledge Law Definition

n

an item of property given as security for a debt or performance.

pledge Usage Examples

Object

  • allegiance: Their sound, distinct and fresh, pledges allegiance to everyone from Iron Maiden and The Misfits to Morrissey and At The Gates.
  • loyalty: He brought out his hands and said: 'I pledged loyalty with these two hands to the Messenger of Allah e.

Converse of object

  • recite: The decision leaves untouched the practice in which millions of schoolchildren around the country begin the day by reciting the pledge.
  • honor: Today I ask all of you to honor that pledge.
  • affirm: By the salat we affirm the pledge which we have made to Him.
  • sign: People are currently signing the pledge at the rate of over 20 a day.

Preposition: as

collateral: Secured Loan - A loan with assets ( usually, home equity ) pledged as collateral.

Adjective modifier

two-year: He is stealing New Labor's two-year tax-and-spend freeze pledge in reverse: stealth worked for them.

Noun used with modifier

  • manifesto: This means we are now in a stronger position than ever to help secure our key manifesto pledges.
  • election: With expectations raised by Yeltsin's extravagant election pledges, the situation is very volatile.
  • legacy: The total of all funds donated and pledged so far, including legacy pledges, is well over £ 1 million.
  • I: And with my heart I pledge to you all that I am.

Infinitive complement

  • halve: At the World Food Summit in 1996, world leaders pledged to halve the number of hungry people by 2015.
  • donate: Roche has also pledged to donate 3 million treatments to the WHO for use where an influenza pandemic may start.
  • abolish: Labor came to power in 1997 pledged to abolish the NHS internal market and deliver world class public services through sustained investment and reform.
  • continue: Mon 14th Jun 2004: Andrew Duff pledges to continue to fight for European Unity.
  • uphold: New directors were engaged, some of whom cared little for the established procedures that Sherwood had pledged to uphold.

Preposition: of

  • allegiance: You may have heard that " the pledge of allegiance " was recently declared unconstitutional.
  • secrecy: He had afterward to bear his share of the blame when O'Connell broke the pledge of secrecy under which the interview took place.

Browse dictionary entries near pledge

  1. ‹ pled
  2. ‹ plectrum
  3. ‹ plectognath
  4. ‹ plebs
  5. ‹ plebiscite
  6. ‹ plebeian
  7. ‹ plebe
  8. ‹ pleater
  9. ‹ pleated
  10. ‹ pleat
  1. pledged ›
  2. pledgee ›
  3. pledger ›
  4. pledget ›
  5. pledgor ›
  6. -plegia ›
  7. Pleiades ›
  8. plein-air ›
  9. pleio- ›
  10. Pleiocene ›