plight 1
/pluyt/ , n.
a condition, state, or situation, esp. an unfavorable or unfortunate one: to find oneself in a sorry plight.
[ 1350-1400; ME plit fold, condition, bad condition pleit PLAIT) fold, manner of folding, condition; sp. appar. influenced by PLIGHT 2 in obs. sense "danger" ]
Syn . case. See predicament .
plight 2
— plighter , n.
/pluyt/ , v.t.
1. to pledge (one's troth) in engagement to marry.
2. to bind (someone) by a pledge, esp. of marriage.
3. to give in pledge, as one's word, or to pledge, as one's honor.
n.
4. Archaic. pledge.
[ bef. 1000; (n.) ME; OE pliht danger, risk; c. D plicht, G Pflicht duty, obligation; (v.) ME plighten, OE plihtan (deriv. of the n.) to endanger, risk, pledge; c. OHG phlichten to engage oneself, MD plihten to guarantee ]