pledge

[[t]plɛdʒ[/t]]

n. v. pledged, pledg•ing

1) a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something:

a pledge of aid[/ex]

2) something delivered as security for the payment of a debt or fulfillment of a promise

3) the state of being given or held as security

4) law Law.

a) the act of delivering goods, property, etc., to another for security

b) the resulting legal relationship

5) something given or regarded as an earnest or token, as of friendship or love

6) a person accepted for membership in a club, fraternity, or sorority, but not yet formally approved or initiated

7) an assurance of support or goodwill conveyed by drinking a person's health; toast

8) to bind by or as if by a pledge:

to pledge hearers to secrecy[/ex]

9) to promise solemnly:

to pledge support[/ex]

10) to give or deposit as a pledge; pawn

11) to stake, as one's honor

12) to secure by a pledge; give a pledge for

13) to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership

14) to drink a toast to

15) to make or give a pledge

•

- take the pledge

Etymology: 1275–1325; ME plege < AF < early ML plevium, plebium, der. of plebīre to pledge < Gmc; cf. OE plēon to risk, G pflegen to look after. Cf. plight II