Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Plight"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Plight \Plight\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plighted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Plighting}.] [AS. plihtan to expose to danger, pliht
danger;cf. D. verplichten to oblige, engage, impose a duty,
G. verpflichten, Sw. f["o]rplikta, Dan. forpligte. See
{Plight}, n.]
1. To pledge; to give as a pledge for the performance of some
act; as, to plight faith, honor, word; -- never applied to
property or goods. `` To do them plighte their troth.''
--Piers Plowman.
He plighted his right hand Unto another love, and to
another land. --Spenser.
Here my inviolable faith I plight. --Dryden.
2. To promise; to engage; to betroth.
Before its setting hour, divide The bridegroom from
the plighted bride. --Sir W.
Scott.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Plight \Plight\, obs.
imp. & p. p. of {Plight}, to pledge. --Chaucer.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Plight \Plight\, obs.
imp. & p. p. of {Pluck}. --Chaucer.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Plight \Plight\, v. t. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French,
fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See {Plait}, {Ply}.]
To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait.[Obs.] ``To sew and
plight.''
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Plight \Plight\, n.
A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. [Obs.] ``Many a
folded plight.''
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Plight \Plight\, n. [OE. pliht danger, engagement, AS. pliht
danger, fr. ple['o]n to risk; akin to D. plicht duty, G.
pflicht, Dan. pligt. [root]28. Cf. {Play}.]
1. That which is exposed to risk; that which is plighted or
pledged; security; a gage; a pledge. ``That lord whose
hand must take my plight.'' --Shak.
2. [Perh. the same word as plight a pledge, but at least
influenced by OF. plite, pliste, ploit, ploi, a condition,
state; cf. E. plight to fold, and F. pli a fold, habit,
plier to fold, E. ply.] Condition; state; -- risk, or
exposure to danger, often being implied; as, a luckless
plight. ``Your plight is pitied.'' --Shak.
To bring our craft all in another plight --Chaucer.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
plight
n 1: a situation from which extrication is difficult especially
an unpleasant or trying one: "finds himself in a most
awkward predicament"; "the woeful plight of homeless
people" [syn: {predicament}, {quandary}]
2: a solemn pledge of fidelity [syn: {troth}]
v 1: give to, in marriage [syn: {betroth}, {engage}, {affiance}]
2: promise solemnly and formally [syn: {pledge}]
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