I. ˈplīt, usu -īd.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English plighten, from Old English i plihtan to endanger, from pliht risk, danger; akin to Old English plēon to expose to danger, Middle Dutch plien, plegen to be responsible for, Old High German pflegan to take care of
: to put or give in pledge : engage
plight faith
plight troth
a plighted bride
he was half engaged … not absolutely plighted — George Meredith
Synonyms: see promise
II. noun
( -s )
: a solemnly given pledge : engagement
women … not famous for keeping their plight — Sir Walter Scott
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English plit, from Anglo-French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin plictus fold — more at plait
1. : condition , state ; especially : bad state or condition : predicament
the plight of the unemployed
ruined landowners who do not dare to face their desperate plight — Marc Slonim
the plight of the sensitive artist in a … standardized society — J.W.Aldridge
2. : physical condition
the horses are in fine plight
lived … many years after in very good plight — Thomas Gray
3. archaic : fold , plait
4. archaic : attire , dress
sit in silver plight — John Keats
Synonyms: see predicament
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English pliten, from plit, n.
obsolete : plait , fold