n.
- a solemn promise or undertaking.
▸a promise of a donation to charity.
▸
(the pledge)
a solemn undertaking to abstain from alcohol.
- Law a thing that is given as security for the fulfilment of a contract or the payment of a debt and is liable to be forfeited in the event of failure.
▸a thing given as a token of love, favour, or loyalty.
- archaic the drinking of a person's health; a toast.
v.
- solemnly undertake to do or give something.
- Law give as security on a loan.
- archaic drink to the health of.
Derivative
- pledgee n. (Law ).
- pledger n.
- pledgor n. (Law ).
Etymology
ME (denoting a person acting as surety for another): from OFr. plege, from med. L. plebium, perh. rel. to the Gmc base of plight2.