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Definition of plight - 4 dictionary results

plight

1  [plahyt]
Use plight in a Sentence
–noun
a condition, state, or situation, esp. an unfavorable or unfortunate one: to find oneself in a sorry plight.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME plit fold, condition, bad condition < AF (c. MF pleit plait ) fold, manner of folding, condition; sp. appar. influenced by plight 2 in obs. sense “danger”

Synonyms:
case. See predicament.

plight

2  [plahyt]
–verb (used with object)
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.
–noun
4. Archaic. pledge.
Origin:
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

Related forms:
plighter, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To plight
plight 1   (plīt)   
n.  A situation, especially a bad or unfortunate one. See Synonyms at predicament.

[Middle English, alteration (influenced by plight, risky promise or pledge) of plit, fold, wrinkle, situation, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin plicitum, neuter past participle of plicāre, to fold; see plek- in Indo-European roots.]
plight 2   (plīt)   
tr.v.   plight·ed, plight·ing, plights

  1. To promise or bind by a solemn pledge, especially to betroth.

  2. To give or pledge (one's word or oath, for example).

n.  A solemn pledge, as of faith.

[Middle English plighten, from Old English plihtan, to endanger, put at risk, from pliht, danger, risk; see dlegh- in Indo-European roots.]
plight'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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