— pledgeable , adj. — pledger , n. — pledgeless , adj.
/plej/ , n. , v. , pledged, pledging .
n.
1. a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something: a pledge of aid; a pledge not to wage war.
2. something delivered as security for the payment of a debt or fulfillment of a promise, and subject to forfeiture on failure to pay or fulfill the promise.
3. the state of being given or held as security: to put a thing in pledge.
4. Law.
a. the act of delivering goods, property, etc., to another for security.
b. the resulting legal relationship.
5. something given or regarded as a security.
6. a person accepted for membership in a club, fraternity, or sorority, but not yet formally approved.
7. an assurance of support or goodwill conveyed by drinking a person's health; a toast.
8. Obs.
a. a hostage.
b. a person who becomes bail or surety for another.
9. take the pledge , to make a solemn, formal vow to abstain from intoxicating drink.
v.t.
10. to bind by or as if by a pledge: to pledge hearers to secrecy.
11. to promise solemnly: to pledge one's support.
12. to give or deposit as a pledge; pawn.
13. to stake, as one's honor.
14. to secure by a pledge; give a pledge for.
15. to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership.
16. to drink a health or toast to.
v.i.
17. to make or give a pledge: to pledge for someone.
18. to drink a pledge; toast someone's health, success, etc.
[ 1275-1325; ME plege plevium, plebium, deriv. of plebire to pledge pleon to risk, G pflegen to look after. See PLIGHT 2 ]
Syn. 2. warranty, surety, guaranty.