plight

¹

[ plahyt ]

noun

1. a condition, state, or situation, especially an unfavorable or unfortunate one:

   to find oneself in a sorry plight.

plight

²

[ plahyt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pledge (one's troth) in engagement to marry.
2. to bind (someone) by a pledge, especially of marriage.
3. to give in pledge, as one's word, or to pledge, as one's honor.

noun

1. Archaic. pledge.

plight

¹

/ plaɪt /

noun

1. a condition of extreme hardship, danger, etc

plight

²

/ plaɪt /

verb

1. to give or pledge (one's word)

   he plighted his word to attempt it

2. to promise formally or pledge (allegiance, support, etc)

   to plight aid

3. plight one's troth
   1. to make a promise of marriage
   2. to give one's solemn promise

noun

1. archaic.
   a solemn promise, esp of engagement; pledge

Derived Forms

• ˈplighter, noun

Other Words From

• plighter noun
• un·plighted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plight¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English plit “fold, condition, bad condition,” from Anglo-French (cognate with Middle French pleit plait ) “fold, manner of folding, condition”; spelling apparently influenced by plight ² in obsolete sense “danger”

Origin of plight²

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English; Old English pliht “danger, risk”; cognate with Dutch plicht, German Pflicht “duty, obligation”; (verb) Middle English plighten, Old English plihtan (derivative of the noun) “to endanger, risk, pledge”; cognate with Old High German phlichten “to engage oneself,” Middle Dutch plihten “to guarantee”

Word History and Origins

Origin of plight¹

C14 plit, from Old French pleit fold, plait ; probably influenced by Old English pliht peril, plight ²

Origin of plight²

Old English pliht peril; related to Old High German, German Pflicht duty

Synonym Study

See predicament.

Example Sentences

So maybe the plight of self-realization is more tangible than in previous generations, but that doesn’t mean that other generations aren’t experiencing existential anxiety.

From Time

The legislation would ease the plight of people like Ahmad Ghabboun, who was the focus of ProPublica’s article.

From ProPublica

“I’ve met the young people at our shows and some have visited my home to share their plight,” Bailey tells Essence, noting that a percentage of ticket sales from Earth, Wind & Fire concerts are designated for the foundation.

From Essence.com

However, with criticism of its market power mounting, and the pandemic highlighting the plight of essential workers, some groups see a bigger opportunity this year to share their concerns.

From Fortune

Her friends and colleagues learned of her plight from her sister’s Facebook updates.

From ProPublica

The international community should do more to protect the plight of these people.

From The Daily Beast

There seems to be a proactive disregard for knowing or caring about their lives and plight.

From The Daily Beast

In most cases, no wants to talk about sexual assault, the rape-kit backlog, or the plight of victims and their families.

From The Daily Beast

Daniels says, championing the plight of an ethical news producer.

From The Daily Beast

Such has been the plight thus far of Anne Hathaway on the Interstellar promo tour.

From The Daily Beast

In my dark corner, in my comfortable chair, I could smile to myself as I watched his plight and that of his companions.

From Project Gutenberg

His passion for her surged up, aroused by pity for her plight, and awakened in him a sense of his brutality.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no beam under that roof, upon which he could alight; and how he bore his plight I did not wait to see.

From Project Gutenberg

Gentlemen:—I am in a sad plight to say much of interest—too thoroughly incapacitated to do justice to you or myself.

From Project Gutenberg

Rich and poor were in the same plight, and the young would soon be as weak as the old already were.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• condition
• predicament
• quandary
• trouble