Plight

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Plight, imp. & p. p. 

 imp. & p. p. of Plight, to pledge.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

Plight, imp. & p. p. 

 imp. & p. p. of Pluck.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

Plight, v. t. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.].

 To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]
"A plighted garment of divers colors."  [1913 Webster]

Plight, n. 

 A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

Plight, n. [OE. pliht danger, engagement, AS. pliht danger, fr. pleón to risk; akin to D. plicht duty, G. pflicht, Dan. pligt. Play.].

•  That which is exposed to risk; that which is plighted or pledged; security; a gage; a pledge.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  Condition; state; -- risk, or exposure to danger, often being implied; as, a luckless plight.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "To bring our craft all in another plight"  [1913 Webster]

Plight, v. t. [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.].

•  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.  Piers Plowman.  [1913 Webster]

  "He plighted his right hand
  Unto another love, and to another land."  [1913 Webster]

  "Here my inviolable faith I plight."  [1913 Webster]
•  To promise; to engage; to betroth.  [1913 Webster]

  "Before its setting hour, divide
  The bridegroom from the plighted bride."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Plight, n. a condition or state, esp. an unfortunate one.

Plight, v. & n. archaic
--v.tr.
1 pledge or promise solemnly (one's faith, loyalty, etc.).
2 (foll. by to) engage, esp. in marriage.
--n. an engagement or act of pledging.

Idiom

plight one's troth see TROTH.

Etymology

orig. as noun, f. OE pliht danger f. Gmc

THESAURUS

Plight

adverse circumstances, adversity, affiance, affliction, aggravation, annoyance, assurance, assure, avouch, avouchment, baffle, bafflement, bearings, become engaged, betroth, bewilderment, bind, blight, bother, box, breakers ahead, bummer, cardhouse, care, case, catch-22, cause for alarm, circumstance, circumstances, clutch, complication, condition, confoundment, confusion, contract, contract an engagement, corner, countersign, covenant, crisis, cross, crunch, curse, danger, dangerous ground, difficulties, difficulty, dilemma, discomposure, disconcert, disconcertedness, disconcertion, disconcertment, disturbance, downer, embarrassing position, embarrassment, emergency, endangerment, engage, engagement, enigma, estate, extremity, faith, fine how-do-you-do, fix, footing, gaping chasm, gathering clouds, guarantee, hard knocks, hard life, hard lot, hardcase, hardship, hazard, hell to pay, hobble, hole, hot water, house of cards, how-do-you-do, imbroglio, imperilment, irritation, jam, jeopardy, location, lot, make a promise, menace, mess, mix, modality, mode, morass, mystery, nonplus, oath, parlous straits, parole, pass, peril, perplexity, perturbation, pickle, pinch, place, pledge, position, posture, pother, predicament, pressure, pretty pass, pretty pickle, pretty predicament, problem, promise, publish the banns, puzzle, puzzlement, quagmire, quandary, quicksand, rank, riddle, rigor, risk, rocks ahead, scrape, sea of troubles, situation, slough, solemn declaration, spot, squeeze, standing, state, station, status, stew, sticky wicket, storm clouds, strait, straits, stress, stress of life, swamp, swear, thin ice, threat, tight spot, tight squeeze, tightrope, trial, tribulation, tricky spot, troth, trouble, troubles, unassuredness, underwrite, unholy mess, upset, vale of tears, vicissitude, vouch, vow, warrant, warranty, word, word of honor

ROGET THESAURUS

Plight

State

N state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, mood, pickle, plight, temper, aspect, dilemma, pass, predicament, constitution, habitude, diathesis, frame, fabric, stamp, set, fit, mold, mould, mode, modality, schesis, form, tone, tenor, turn, trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character, conditional, modal, formal, structural, organic, conditionally, as the matter stands, as things are, such being the case.

Promise

N promise, undertaking, word, troth, plight, pledge, parole, word of honor, vow, oath, profession, assurance, warranty, guarantee, insurance, obligation, contract, stipulation, engagement, preengagement, affiance, betroth, betrothal, betrothment, promising, promissory, votive, under hand and seal, upon oath, promised, affianced, pledged, bound, committed, compromised, in for it, as one's head shall answer for, in for a penny in for a pound, ex voto, gage d'amour.

Security

N security, guaranty, guarantee, gage, warranty, bond, tie, pledge, plight, mortgage, collateral, debenture, hypothecation, bill of sale, lien, pawn, pignoration, real security, vadium, stake, deposit, earnest, handsel, caution, promissory note, bill, bill of exchange, I, O, U, personal security, covenant, specialty, parole, acceptance, indorsement, signature, execution, stamp, seal, sponsor, cosponsor, sponsion, sponsorship, surety, bail, mainpernor, hostage, godchild, godfather, godmother, recognizance, deed of indemnity, covenant of indemnity, authentication, verification, warrant, certificate, voucher, docket, doquet, record, probate, attested copy, receipt, acquittance, quittance, discharge, release, muniment, title deed, instrument, deed, deed poll, assurance, indenture, charter, charter poll, paper, parchment, settlement, will, testament, last will and testament, codicil, bonis avibus, gone where the woodbine twineth.