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.

Related Words

• condition
• predicament
• quandary
• trouble