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

“The health care system, which should be a sanctuary in times of war, has instead become a target. Hospitals are under siege, and medical professionals, who are doing everything in their power to save lives, are under direct threat. Doctors are being attacked, kidnapped and killed, while the very institutions meant to provide care are being bombarded. Yet, the world remains largely silent on their plight. While there is global outrage over civilian casualties, the relentless attacks on the medical community remain underreported.”

From Salon

“For far too long extremists have blamed poor people and low-wage people for their plight while moderates too often have ignored poor people, appealing instead to the so-called middle class while the poor and low-wage people have become nearly half of this country,” Barber told reporters earlier this year.

From Salon

Both women show the radical possibilities of reimagining liberalism as a tradition that takes seriously the plight of women in seeking to articulate a better way to achieve America’s highest egalitarian potential.

From Salon

"Early Black liberals rejected pessimism and apathy. Studying their resolve can show us what it looks like to have hope in the face of setbacks and to relentlessly bear witness to the plight of the most vulnerable."

From Salon

Studying their resolve can show us what it looks like to have hope in the face of setbacks and to relentlessly bear witness to the plight of the most vulnerable among us.

From Salon

Related Words

• condition
• predicament
• quandary
• trouble