pledge : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: pledge	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for pledge
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
pledge n a deposit of personal property as security for a debt; "his saxophone was in pledge" someone accepted for membership but not yet fully admitted to the group a drink in honor of or to the health of a person or event Synonym(s): pledge, toast a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something; "an assurance of help when needed"; "signed a pledge never to reveal the secret" Synonym(s): assurance, pledge v promise solemnly and formally; "I pledge that I will honor my wife" Synonym(s): pledge, plight pay (an amount of money) as a contribution to a charity or service, especially at regular intervals; "I pledged $10 a month to my favorite radio station" Synonym(s): pledge, subscribe propose a toast to; "Let us toast the birthday girl!"; "Let's drink to the New Year" Synonym(s): toast, drink, pledge, salute, wassail give as a guarantee; "I pledge my honor" bind or secure by a pledge; "I was pledged to silence"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Pledge \Pledge\, n. [OF. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium, plivium; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer (sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play. [root]28. Cf. {Prebend}, {Replevin}.] 1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn. Note: Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [see {Mortgage}]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See {Hypotheca}. --Story. Kent. 2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. [bd]I am Grumio's pledge.[b8] --Shak. 3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession. 4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. [bd]That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope.[b8] --Milton. 5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Pledge \Pledge\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pledged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pledging}.] [Cf. OF. pleiger to give security. See {Pledge}, n.] 1. To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch. 2. To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor. We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. --The Declaration of Independence. 3. To secure performance of, as by a pledge. [Obs.] To pledge my vow, I give my hand. --Shak. 4. To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; as, to pledge one's self. 5. To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast. Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise. --Cowley.
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Pledge See {LOAN}.