plight Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
    predicament; quandary.
    • finds himself in a most awkward predicament
    • the woeful plight of homeless people
  2. noun a solemn pledge of fidelity
    troth.
  3. verb give to in marriage
    betroth; affiance; engage.
  4. verb promise solemnly and formally
    pledge.
    • I pledge that I will honor my wife

WordNet

Plight
Definitions
obs.
  1. imp. & p. p. of Plight, to pledge. Chaucer.
Plight
Definitions
obs.
  1. imp. & p. p. of Pluck. Chaucer.
Plight transitive verb
Etymology
OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.
Definitions
  1. To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait.Obs. "To sew and plight." in the sense of fold, = pleat [plait 2 in MW10] Chaucer.
    A plighted garment of divers colors. Milton.
Plight noun
Definitions
  1. A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. Obs. "Many a folded plight." = pleat Spenser.
Plight noun
Etymology
OE. pliht danger, engagement, AS. pliht danger, fr. pleón to risk; akin to D. plicht duty, G. pflicht, Dan. pligt. Cf. Play.
Definitions
  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.
Plight transitive verb
Etymology
AS. plihtan to expose to danger, pliht danger;cf. D. verplichten to oblige, engage, impose a duty, G. verpflichten, Sw. förplikta, Dan. forpligte. See Plight, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Plighted; present participle & verbal noun Plighting
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913