From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plight \Plight\, n.
A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. [Obs.] "Many a
folded plight." --Spenser.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plight \Plight\, n. [OE. pliht danger, engagement, AS. pliht
danger, fr. ple['o]n to risk; akin to D. plicht duty, G.
pflicht, Dan. pligt. [root]28. Cf. Play.]
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.
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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.
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To bring our craft all in another plight --Chaucer.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plight \Plight\, obs.
imp. & p. p. of Plight, to pledge. --Chaucer.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plight \Plight\, obs.
imp. & p. p. of Pluck. --Chaucer.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plight \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.[Obs.] "To sew and
plight." --Chaucer.
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A plighted garment of divers colors. --Milton.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plight \Plight\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plighted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Plighting.] [AS. plihtan to expose to danger, pliht
danger;cf. D. verplichten to oblige, engage, impose a duty,
G. verpflichten, Sw. f["o]rplikta, Dan. forpligte. See
Plight, n.]
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.
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He plighted his right hand
Unto another love, and to another land. --Spenser.
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Here my inviolable faith I plight. --Dryden.
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2. To promise; to engage; to betroth.
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Before its setting hour, divide
The bridegroom from the plighted bride. --Sir W.
Scott.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
plight
n 1: a situation from which extrication is difficult especially
an unpleasant or trying one; "finds himself in a most
awkward predicament"; "the woeful plight of homeless
people" [syn: predicament, quandary, plight]
2: a solemn pledge of fidelity [syn: plight, troth]
v 1: give to in marriage [syn: betroth, engage, affiance,
plight]
2: promise solemnly and formally; "I pledge that I will honor my
wife" [syn: pledge, plight]