pledgen.
/plɛdʒ/, U.S. /plɛdʒ/ 1. † b. A person given or held as security for the fulfilment of a promise, contract, etc.; a hostage. Obsolete.
a. Chiefly Law. A person who becomes surety for another; a bail; a surety; a member of a frank-pledge or frithborh. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > [noun] > a bondsman or guarantor
borrowa1000
festermanOE
inborghc1175
pledge1348
surety1428
warrant1478
soverty1517
creditor1523
cautionerc1565
warranter1583
caution1586
warranty1586
security1600
stipulator1610
engager1611
pawner1611
undertaker1616
bond1632
ensurer1654
cautionary1655
security man1662
voucher1667
warrantee1668
respondent1672
guarand1674
guarantee1679
guaranty1684
hypothecator1828
warrantor1850
guarantor1853
society > law > legal obligation > bond or recognizance > requiring or giving legal security > [noun] > being legal surety for another > mutual, in tithing > member of frank-pledge
pledge1348
frank-pledgec1503
handborough1626
1348 in C. Welch Hist. Pewterers of London (1902) I. 4 (MED) Be..there amendes made to the master bi hym or bi his plegges of the crafte.
c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 3018 Melibe..receyued hir obligaciouns and hir bondes by hir othes vp on hir plegges and borwes.
1467 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 382 (MED) Yf eny mans wyf becom dettor or plegge..she to answere to hym..that hath cause to sue.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. iv. sig. e.ii And in as moche the godfader & godmoder ben pledges & maketh good for hym.
1562 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 221 To entir as plege and souerte for his said fadder.
1581 W. Lambarde Eirenarcha i. iii. 15 Borowhead, Borsholder, & Tithingman..signifie, The chiefe man of the free pledges within that Borow, or Tithing.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 44 Petruchio patience, I am Grumio's pledge . View more context for this quotation
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 70 Each one being pledge for others good abearing.
1751 H. Fielding Enq. Causes Increase Robbers vi. 77 In Case of the Default of Appearance in a Decenner, his nine Pledges had one and thirty Days to bring the Delinquent forth to Justice.
1874 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. (1875) I. v. 87 Each association (frithborh) has a headman, a ‘capital pledge’, borhs-ealdor or frith-borge-head.
1895 F. Pollock & F. W. Maitland Hist. Eng. Law I. ii. iii. §4. 558 The chief pledge seems to have exercised a certain authority over his subordinate pledges.
1996 Z. Razi Medieval Society & Manor Court 65 He [sc. John Clericus] made frequent appearances in the manorial court between 1286 and 1301, acting as a pledge on 14 occasions.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > [noun] > a hostage
yiselc893
hostagec1290
hostagerc1330
pledgec1384
ransomer1707
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) 1 Macc. xiii. 16 Nowe sende thou an hundred talentis of syluer and his two sonnys pleggis, that he not dismitted flee fro vs.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 129 Seleucus..somtyme plegge and prisoner at Rome.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 124 In þat batail þe kyng was take, and Edward was plegge for his fader.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Macc. ix. 53 He toke also the chefest mens sonnes in the countre for pledges, and put them in the castel at Ierusalem to be kepte.
1597 King James VI in 3rd Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1872) 422/2 Burdynit with the keiping of the pleges and broken men reteinit for gude ordour on the bourdouris.
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia i. vii. 55 They might..also take himselfe Prisoner, and the fower English Pledges.
c1645 W. Atkins Relation of Journey (1994) 246 Eighte..are to departe for Spain..and the other foure to remaine as pledges until the money should come.
1667 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1916) II. 57 He caused apprehend Tormat Mcleod..and keeped him as a pledge or ane overband over his kinred and freinds.
1712 Boston News-let. 21 Apr. 2/1 The Consul was sent ashoar for the Money (the rest remaining Pledges).
c. Something deposited as security for the fulfilment of a contract, the payment of a debt, or as a guarantee of good faith, etc., and liable to forfeiture in case of failure. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > [noun] > a pledge or security > pledge deposit
borrowa975
weda1122
security1444
pawn1479
pledge1490
collateral1887
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 471 Yf he wolde not graunte me peas wyth hym, I promyse you he sholde leve his hede for a pledge.
1513–14 Act 5 Hen. VIII c. 1 He shall..bring in sufficient gage and plegge to the verey value of the contentes of the same writtyng obligatorie.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxii. 6 Thou hast taken the pledge from thy brethren for naught, and robbed the naked of their clothinge.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. iii. 239 What Pledge [1595 and 1600 assurance] haue we of thy firme Loyalty?
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 325 The Tree..which I have set The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith, Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life. View more context for this quotation
1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) Pledges, in Common Law are sureties either Real or Personal which the Plaintiff finds to prosecute his Sute.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. i. xv. 105 Upon which Adams pointing to his Saddle-Bag told him with a Face and voice full of Solemnity..that he would deposite one of the Volumes in his Hands by way of Pledge . View more context for this quotation
1805 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. V. 552 The Lord did not become entitled to a fine on these surrenders, because they were only intended as a pledge for securing the payment of the money advanced.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxvii. 9 They therefore sent seven galleys..as a pledge of their loyalty.
1889 Cent. Dict. at Corporation Moneyed corporation, a corporation having..power to make loans on pledges or deposits.
1968 Lebende Sprachen 13 81/2 Any valuables..will serve..as pledge for any claims..of the bank against the customer.
1999 D. Ibbetson Hist. Introd. Law of Obligations 19 The debtor will have given to the creditor a gage or pledge and that the creditor's primary protection is to be found in its sale.
d. spec. A thing put in pawn.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > moneylending > [noun] > pawnbroking > object pawned
pledge1620
wadset1796
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron II. viii. x. f. 103v The most of my goods here I will pawne for thee: but what pledge can you deliuer in to make vp the rest?
1627 J. Weemes God i. xvii. 162 A pledge may bee laide in pawne, and may be taken vp againe.
1772 Town & Country Mag. 73 The Pop-shop was ready for pledges, the gin-shop was ready for the money lent upon them.
1800 Act 39 & 40 Geo. III c. 99 §2 Any time during which the said pledge shall remain in pawn.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. iv. 71 Hold the ring..as pledge for a small sum far beneath its value.
1905 Daily News 1 Mar. 6 There is an average loss to the pawnbroker on these unredeemed pledges, which are often bought cheaply and in bulk by the ‘mosker’.
2004 Times (Nexis) 21 June 3 Why would the owner of a £25,000 bracelet need to pawn it? And then be unable to redeem the pledge after the statutory six months?
2.
a. A solemn commitment to do or refrain from doing something; a promise, a vow.Recorded earliest in pledge day n. at Compounds 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > pledge or assurance
wordOE
costOE
earnest1221
fayc1300
certainty1303
wager1306
plighta1325
pledge1371
assurancec1386
undertaking?a1400
faithc1405
surementc1410
to make affiancec1425
earnest pennya1438
warrant1460
trow1515
fidelity1531
stipulation1552
warranty1555
pawn1573
arrha1574
avouchment1574
assumption1590
word of honour1598
avouch1603
assecurance1616
preassurance1635
tower-stamp1642
parole of honour1648
spondence1657
honour1659
1371 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 11 (MED) Et dati cementariis in le pleghdai de curialitate, ex consuetudine, 20 s.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 37 (MED) Yef it be founde that this be cause that the werke stondeth not, lete my plegges [Fr. plege] be quyte.
1716 N. Brady tr. Virgil Æneis iii. 44 His Hand, the solemn Pledge of Safety, gives.
1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision III. v. 67 Yet not bent, as Jephthah once..to redeem his pledge By doing worse.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. vi. 170 [The] oath of allegiance..was a pledge for civil, and not for religious purposes.
1855 D. Brewster Mem. Life I. Newton (new ed.) II. xv. 82 He obtained them..under the pledge of secrecy.
1883 Manch. Examiner 30 Oct. 5/5 The measure was introduced..in defiance of the most solemn pledges of the British Government.
1920 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love xix. 283 They must marry at once, and so make a definite pledge, enter into a definite communion.
1946 B. Johnson Campus versus Classroom vi. 165 A young woman student who had broken a sorority pledge after she had met her fellow-pledges at a party and found one of them thoroughly drunk.
1988 P. Monette Borrowed Time iv. 80 His own pledge to fight beside us was unswerving.
2004 Times Mag. (Nexis) 25 Oct. 31 One of the few archliberals who lived up to a pledge of going into exile if George W. Bush was elected President.
b. pledge of allegiance n. a solemn oath of loyalty, esp. to a nation; spec. (frequently with capital initials) an oath of allegiance to (the flag of) the United States.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > I promise you [phrase] > specific promise or pledge
borgh of haimhaldc1400
pledge of allegiance1750
the temperance pledge1833
the total abstinence pledge1833
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > vow or oath > of particular type
abjuration?a1439
professing1560
vow of silence1567
oath of allegiance1574
vow1600
affidation1612
abjuration1621
fetish1705
affidature1727
pledge of allegiance1750
abjuration of the realm1768
oath-parole1900
Guide's honour1912
1750 R. Rolt Impartial Representation Conduct Several Powers Europe IV. vii. i. 82 [The sect] makes it their absolute duty, to..cancel every solemn pledge of allegiance.
1856 C. S. Stewart Brazil & La Plata xv. 183 The silent, though exacted pledge of allegiance to the chief in power.
1862 Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pa.) 2 Sept. He is a traitor, who, while..ostensibly observing his pledge of allegiance, contrives to bring dishonor and defeat upon his country.
1892 Decatur (Illinois) Daily Rev. 22 Oct. The out of doors exercises [to celebrate Columbus day]... Raising the flag by veterans. Three cheers for ‘Old Glory’... Pledge of allegiance by school.
1951 Chron.-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) 7 June 15/1 The meeting was closed with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and closing prayer.
1991 Dædalus Summer 96 The bay'a, or pledge of allegiance by the community or its representatives..was an integral part of the installation of a new ruler.
2002 Time 8 July 96/2 The Senate and House—fearlessly doing the difficult, unpopular thing—came out..in favor of the Pledge of Allegiance.
c. A document setting out a promise or commitment, to which a person assents by signing; the promise or commitment so set out. Usually in to sign a pledge (cf. sense 2d).
ΚΠ
1791 To Right Reverend John, Bishop of Centuria (Committee of Eng. Catholics) 22 Signing a pledge of civil submission to temporal government, would do more hurt than all the former persecutions of heretics.
1835 Times 25 Dec. 1/3 The Directors, and all officers and Clerks of the Company, sign a pledge of secrecy as to the transactions of the Company with their customers.
1850 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Jan. 41 He [sc. Oliver Cromwell] forced a portion of one of his Parliaments to sign a pledge of fidelity to his person and government.
1930 G. B. Shaw Apple Cart i. 30 I shall not leave this room until I have His Majesty's signed pledge that its conditions will be observed.
1988 S. Rosenberg Soviet Odyssey iii. 30 The officer had threatened to shoot her son if she did not sign a pledge to cooperate with the Gestapo.
2003 Western Morning News (Plymouth) (Nexis) 26 Nov. 2 He called on the audience to sign pledges that they will take part in ‘non-violent action’ to prevent the bulldozers moving in.
d. With the. A solemn undertaking to abstain from alcohol (as made by members of a temperance movement). Also the temperance pledge, the total abstinence pledge. Frequently in to take (also sign, keep) the pledge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > abstention from drinking > [noun] > pledge to abstain from drinking
pledge1833
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > abstention from drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > totally abstain from alcohol
abstain1784
to put (also keep) in the pin1827
to take (also sign, keep) the pledge1833
teetotal1883
to take the blue ribbon1884
teetotalize1898
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > I promise you [phrase] > specific promise or pledge
borgh of haimhaldc1400
pledge of allegiance1750
the temperance pledge1833
the total abstinence pledge1833
1829 Ohio Repository 13 Mar. 5/3 The members of the Rev. Dr. Skinner's church..came forward..and signed a pledge that they would not hereafter partake of any ardent spirits.]
1833 New Eng. Mag. (Boston) Aug. 137 The Temperance Pledge.
1833 New Eng. Mag. (Boston) Aug. 141 Has he signed the pledge?
1843 in M. Miliband Observer of 19th Cent. (1966) 161 About 3,000 persons took the pledge... From the appearance of many of them, we should say the total abstinence pledge was very necessary.
1864 Soc. Sci. Rev. 259 When a man is a drunkard, and can still respect and keep an oath, by all means let him take the pledge.
1930 G. B. Shaw Apple Cart i. 43 Though none of us doubted that he would sign the pledge, we were not equally certain that the infirmities of his nature would allow him to keep it.
1970 J. H. Gray Boy from Winnipeg 126 It was only when bootleg beer became openly available in the downtown hotels after 1920 that he gradually slipped from the pledge.
1990 J. Meyers D.H. Lawrence ii. 17 Lydia, a teetotaler, had persuaded Arthur to take the pledge when they married.
e. Originally U.S. The promise of a donation to a charity or other cause in response to an appeal for funds; the donation itself.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > gift or present > [noun] > a contribution > (promise of) contribution to a cause
benevolencec1425
pledge1887
1887 New Eng. Mag. Mar. 455 After pledges to the amount of $100,000 were secured, the corner-stone was laid.
1920 Decatur (Illinois) Daily Rev. 30 Nov. 14/4 Receipts Monday amounted to nearly $1,000, only $56 of which was in pledges, the rest being cash.
1933 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 25 Jan. 3/6 The 8,000 volunteer canvassers..have obtained pledges totalling more than $5,000,000.
1986 Keyboard Player Apr. 3/2 The money was raised by listeners telephoning pledges for records to be played.
2004 Boston Globe (Nexis) 4 Apr. 2 Local residents made close to $25,000 in pledges to the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield during its annual telethon.
f. North American College slang. A student who has made a pledge (sense 2a) to join a fraternity or sorority. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > learner > college or university student > [noun] > student societies > member or prospective member
frat1895
pledge1901
corps1904
pledgee1924
1901 Univ. of Chicago Weekly 1 Aug. 1087/1 Still if the Kappas are as bad as you say—you say they lifted two pledges last year.
1930 Randolph Enterprise (Elkins, W. Va.) 18 Dec. 1/1 [They]..have been announced as two of five pledges chosen by the University Dramatic club at Morgantown.
1949 Reader's Digest Aug. 71/1 The chapter might..keep Tom as a sort of permanent pledge.
2003 New Yorker 31 Mar. 88/3 Chris was one of twelve pledges at Delta Upsilon, a party-hearty fraternity that offered instant access to the social scene.
3. The condition of being given or held as a pledge; the state of being pledged. Esp. in to be (also lay, hold, put) in pledge, to give (also have, lay, put, take) to pledge, to take out of pledge, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > borrowing money > borrow money [verb (transitive)] > pawn
to give (also have, lay, put, take) to pledgec1384
to set, put, lay to or in wedc1384
engage1525
pawn1570
to lay (up) in lavender1584
impawn1598
oppignorate1622
pignorate1623
dip1640
to put to lumber1671
vamp1699
pop1731
sweatc1800
spout1811
lumber1819
up the spout1819
hock1878
soak1882
to put away1887
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > [noun] > a pledge or security > condition of being given or held as a pledge
pledgec1384
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > borrowing money > borrow money [verb (transitive)] > borrow money on security > specific to mortgage (land)
to set, put, lay to or in wed?a900
wadsetc1330
to give (also have, lay, put, take) to pledgea1529
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) 1 Macc. i. 11 There wente out of hem a root of synne, Antiochus the noble..that was at Rome in seegyng, or plegge [a1425 L.V. v.r. ostage, ether plegge; L. obses].
1423 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Var. Coll. (1907) IV. 83 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 3218) LXIV. 1 The whyche Tabernacle was ylayde yn plegge to the same personys..for the somme of DCCC Markes & lx.
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 3158 My life to plegge shal he haue.
1453 in E. W. W. Veale Great Red Bk. Bristol: Text Pt. II (1938) 203 The saide prest..shal..no Juel, ornament, nor other goodis belonging to the auter of the saide Chaunterie lei to plegge.
a1529 J. Skelton Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng in Certayne Bks. (?1545) 293 Some layde to pledge Theyr hatchet and theyr wedge.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 23 And gaif thy self to plaige.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 485 He..to meet and stop out want, had put to pledge, and pawned most of his own Houshold-stuff.
1782 Ld. Macartney Let. 11 Jan. in Private Corr. (1950) 20 The persons who hold the Nabob's Jewels in pledge, are going to sell them immediately.
1849 C. Brontë Shirley II. ii. 44 His coat and castor having been detained at the public-house in pledge.
1862 Mrs. H. Wood Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles I. xxii. 275 Pressed for a sum of money..he had put his Sunday coat in pledge.
1901 Daily Chron. 14 May 7/7 Mr. Cardwell's scheme..abolished purchase in the Army, took the Army out of pledge, as the reform was wittily described.
1994 N.Y. Law Jrnl. 13 Jan. 5 He examined the important question of what is required to put a pledgee on notice that securities it holds in pledge are subject to an adverse interest.
4. † c. An item, esp. a glove, thrown down as a symbol of a challenge to do battle; = gage n.1 2. Obsolete.
a. A thing given or taken as a sign or token of favour, loyalty, love, etc., or as a guarantee of something to come.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > [noun] > a pledge or security
warrantisea1300
surancec1300
borrow-gage1303
suretyc1330
wage1338
wed1340
again-behotera1382
hostagec1400
sickeringa1450
gage1486
soverty1488
vadimonyc1503
pledge1526
slauntiagh1535
band1596
mortgage1598
ward and warsela1600
covenant1644
guaranty1697
security1711
guaranteeship1715
cautionment1815
guarantee1832
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Dviv Innumerable..benefytes and consolacions he hath gyuen vs, as very pledges & sure tokens of loue.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxiiiv He hath lefte in those holy Misteries, as a pledge of his loue..his owne blessed body, & precious bloud.
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron I. ii. iii. f. 36v Holy and religious vowes haue past betweene vs both, and the Ring on his finger, is the firme pledge of my faith and constancie.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis v, in tr. Virgil Wks. 348 Accept this goblet rough with figur'd Gold... This Pledge of ancient Amity receive, Which to my second Sire I justly give.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. p. xiv/2 (note) His moderation is almost a pledge of his veracity.
1792 E. Burke Corr. (1844) III. 447 The exertion of one virtue is always a pledge for the exertion of another.
a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) II. 438 A precious pledge that, wander where he will, One heart will think and dream about him still.
1850 N. Hawthorne Scarlet Let. xxiii. 312 And as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow.
1917 P. S. Allen Let. 8 July (1939) 139 I wonder if you recognised what was in my mind..when I wrote of Rud. Agricola's ‘planting out his books in friends' houses as pledges of return’.
1982 K. L. Schmitz Gift-creation 50 Long after the gift has been given and accepted, it may subsist as a pledge of fidelity.
b. A child, esp. one considered as a token or evidence of mutual love and duty between parents. Now archaic and rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > child > [noun]
wenchelc890
childeOE
littleOE
littlingOE
hired-childc1275
smalla1300
brolla1325
innocentc1325
chickc1330
congeonc1330
impc1380
faunt1382
young onec1384
scionc1390
weea1400
birdc1405
chickenc1440
enfaunta1475
small boyc1475
whelp1483
burden1490
little one1509
brat?a1513
younkerkin1528
kitling1541
urchin1556
loneling1579
breed1586
budling1587
pledge?1587
ragazzo1591
simplicity1592
bantling1593
tadpole1594
two-year-old1594
bratcheta1600
lambkin1600
younker1601
dandling1611
buda1616
eyas-musketa1616
dovelinga1618
whelplinga1618
puppet1623
butter printa1625
chit1625
piggy1625
ninnyc1626
youngster1633
fairya1635
lap-child1655
chitterling1675
squeaker1676
cherub1680
kid1690
wean1692
kinchin1699
getlingc1700
totum17..
charity-child1723
small girl1734
poult1739
elfin1748
piggy-wiggy1766
piccaninny1774
suck-thumb18..
teeny1802
olive1803
sprout1813
stumpie1820
sexennarian1821
totty1822
toddle1825
toddles1828
poppet1830
brancher1833
toad1836
toddler1837
ankle-biter1840
yarkera1842
twopenny1844
weeny1844
tottykins1849
toddlekins1852
brattock1858
nipper1859
sprat1860
ninepins1862
angelet1868
tenas man1870
tad1877
tacker1885
chavvy1886
joey1887
toddleskin1890
thumb-sucker1891
littlie1893
peewee1894
tyke1894
che-ild1896
kiddo1896
mother's bairn1896
childling1903
kipper1905
pick1905
small1907
God forbid1909
preadolescent1909
subadolescent1914
toto1914
snookums1919
tweenie1919
problem child1920
squirt1924
trottie1924
tiddler1927
subteen1929
perisher1935
poopsie1937
pre-schooler1937
pre-teen1938
pre-teener1940
juvie1941
sprog1944
pikkie1945
subteenager1947
pre-teenager1948
pint-size1954
saucepan lid1960
rug rat1964
smallie1984
bosom-child-
?1587 R. Southwell Epist. Comfort xii. f. 174 S. Felicitas,..seeinge her seuen deare pledges martyred before her, was in a sorte martyred in them all.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. x. sig. I5v But faire Charissa to a louely fere Was lincked, and by him had many pledges dere.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 91 Yeerely sacrifice of the deerest pledges of Nature to Saturne.
1651 W. Davenant Gondibert i. ix No male Pledge, to give a lasting name, Sprung from his bed.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. viii. 139 I could never forget those domestick Pledges I had left behind me.
1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 147 After several successive fits..I miscarried of the dear pledge of my Charles's love.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. vi. 71 Exulting over the first pledge of their union, a fine little girl.
1885 R. L. Stevenson & F. Stevenson More New Arabian Nights 79 There was but one pledge of the marriage, my daughter Clara.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xiv. [Oxen of the Sun] 400 And now this last pledge of their union, a Purefoy if ever there was one, with the true Purefoy nose.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > [noun] > challenge to > token or pledge of challenge
gage13..
wedc1330
glovea1400
pledge1590
pawn1597
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. D6 He..threw his gauntlet as a sacred pledg, His cause in combat the next day to try.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. xxii. 339 The tenant in the first place must produce his champion, who, by throwing down his glove as a gage or pledge, thus wages or stipulates battel with the champion of the demandant.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iii. vi. 89 The honour'd pledge you gave In every battle-field shall wave Upon my helmet-crest.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. xiii. 331 Malvoisin..stepped forward, and laid the glove of the Jewess, which was the pledge of battle, at the feet of the Grand Master.
5. An assurance of allegiance or goodwill to a person, cause, etc., confirmed by drinking; the drinking of a health to a person, party, or cause; a toast. Now rare (archaic or historical in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [noun] > drinking intoxicating liquor > drinking to each other or toasting > a toast
wassailc1275
proface1586
pledge1594
carouse1599
fathom health1600
skol1600
health1602
pitcher-praise1654
toast1746
hob-nob1761
loyal toast1799
salamander1868
ganbei1940
1594 T. Lodge & R. Greene Looking Glasse sig. Hv Let come my Lord, Iack scincker fil it full, A pledge vnto the health of heauenly Aluida.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Propina, a drinking, a health or a pledge to one.
1635 T. Heywood Philocothonista 12 Calistenes..[when] the King offered him a deepe quaffing-bowle, which he modestly refused,..said aloud. I desire not, Oh Alexander, to receive a pledge from thee; by taking which, I shall be presently inforced to inquire for a Physition.
1747 Lady M. W. Montagu St. James's Coffee-house in Six Town Eclogues ii A certain Duke one night my health begun; With chearful pledges round the room it run.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe I. xiv. 295 But no man ventured directly to gainsay a pledge filled to the health of the reigning monarch.
1890 ‘M. Field’ Tragic Mary iv. ii. 161 To her health and to the blest Conjunction of these realms we drink. A pledge!
1910 H. E. Krehbiel Bk. Operas vi. 121 Faust drinks a pledge to the vision [of Mephistopheles], which fades away.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. † pledge-jewel n. Obsolete
pledge day n.
ΚΠ
1371Pledge day [see sense 2a].
1850 H. B. Stanton Sketches of Reforms & Reformers xxxi. 343 The roads leading to Cork were, on ‘pledge days’, thronged with multitudes.
1995 Times-Picayune (New Orleans) 22 Oct. 1 h2 Monday—Pledge Day. Students pledge to ‘just say no’ to drugs.
pledge form n.
ΚΠ
1886 Amer. Naturalist 20 491 The society..will upon application furnish circulars of information and pledge forms.
1937 W. B. Shaw Univ. between Two Centuries 451 The pledge form called for payments directly to the University in installments over a period of ten years.
2002 Arizona Republic (Nexis) 30 Mar. 1 First-time volunteers were..shown a short video, hosted by..Joe Campbell, who explained to us how to fill out the pledgeforms.
ΚΠ
1850 P. H. Gosse Sacred Streams i. 41 The pledge-jewels of Jesus' love.
pledge office n.
ΚΠ
1792 Monthly Reg. 2 352 Papal Revenue... Post revenue..6,000 [Roman crowns]. Public pledge office..52,000.]
1907 N.E.D. at Pledge Pledge-office.
2002 Leicester Mercury (Nexis) 28 Dec. 14 He had a pledge office, and the poorer folk of Belgrave would pledge their best clothes on Monday until pay day on Friday when the wages came in.
pledge ring n.
ΚΠ
1839 Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pa.) 12 Dec. 1/6 (title of poem) The pledge ring.
1863 ‘M. Harland’ Col. Floyd's Wards iv, in Husks 292 He had pressed the pledge-ring upon her finger!
1997 Guardian (Nexis) 12 May t4 Commitments are made at public ceremonies, with tearful parents in tow, and the True Love Waits pledge ring can be purchased.
pledge room n.
ΚΠ
1840 Times 25 Feb. 7 A silver watch, which had been stolen from the pledge-room.
1994 Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) (Nexis) 7 May c1 It looked like they had a contest..to see who could urinate or vomit the most on the walls and floor of the pledge room.
2002 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 26 Mar. 1 Two KPCC radio hosts married station volunteers. At least one person proposed in another local pledge room.
b. With reference to fraternity and sorority pledges; cf. sense 2f.
pledge master n.
ΚΠ
1928 Los Angeles Times 20 May iii. 5/2 Terrer DeLapp has supervised the preliminary training of the recently initiated Bachelors as official pledge-master of the group.
2003 Cincinnati Enquirer (Nexis) 28 Oct. 3C It causes them agony and guilt when the pledge masters order them to go shoplifting to prove their allegiance.
pledge pin n.
ΚΠ
1902 Chicago Tribune 3 June 13/7 Hall came back from Wisconsin wearing a fraternity pledge pin.
1944 Chicago Daily News 28 Oct. 1 After the incident, Soik turned in his pledge pin.
2004 Phoenix New Times (Nexis) 23 Sept. After a tedious process of fastening the Delta Chi pledge pin to the shirt pockets of the newly inducted, the Kappa Kappa Gamma girls take their seats.
C2. Objective and instrumental.
a.
pledge breaker n.
ΚΠ
1840 Times 16 May 7 The Mathewites..burned the effigy of Ryan, the ‘Pledge-breaker’.
1929 Times 2 May 21 Each nation must then choose between directly or indirectly supporting the pledge-breaker.
2003 Chicago Sun-Times (Nexis) 21 Feb. 36 We did this two or three times a week. We were committed pledge breakers.
pledge keeper n.
ΚΠ
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Pledge keper, depositarius.
1940 Nevada State Jrnl. 31 Oct. 1 Republican presidential candidate Wendell L. Wilkie tonight attacked President Roosevelt's record as a pledge-keeper.
2000 Daily Record (Nexis) 15 May 14 Thousands of high school and college students known as ‘pledge keepers’, who vow to remain virgins until they are married, look to the singer as a role model of sexual purity.
pledge-taker n.
ΚΠ
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Pledge taker, pignerator.
1757 W. Harris Hibernica 47 The Pledge-taker to pay twenty Pence a Daye to the said Husbandman.., and to restore the same Pledge.
1871 R. M. Johnston Dukesborough Tales 95 Mr. Bill Williams.., the pledge-taker of responsibilities.
1990 Computerworld (Nexis) 14 May 29 Those smiling pledge-takers..are not hunched over terminals, typing in each caller's donation.
b.
pledge breaking n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1841 Times 5 July 6 We fear they cannot hope to beat the open Tories and the double-faced, pledge-breaking, Whig-Tories combined.
2001 Irish News (Nexis) 26 Nov. 7 That party had been guilty of pledge breaking and dishonour.
pledge-making n.
ΚΠ
1907 N.E.D. at Pledge Pledge-making.
1995 Chicago Sun-Times (Nexis) 14 June 60 At the first event, hosts..welcomed more than 100 guests for an evening of cocktails, dinner and pledgemaking at the foundation headquarters on South Chicago Avenue.
pledge-mongering n.
ΚΠ
1907 N.E.D. at Pledge Pledge-mongering.
pledge-signing n.
ΚΠ
1878 N.Y. Times 9 Dec. 5/2 If the signing did not accomplish complete reformation, it was a stepping stone to that desirable condition... The meeting closed with hymn-singing and pledge signing.
1964 New Eng. Q. 37 492 Adams' supporters..forced him to close his liquor store by starting an old-fashioned pledge-signing temperance crusade.
2004 Sunday Mail (Malaysia) (Nexis) 1 Aug. Malaysia volunteers headed for their adopted village..to celebrate Earth Week with the villagers taking part in pledge-signing.
c.
pledge-bound adj.
ΚΠ
1832 Times 10 Dec. 3 We mean the voluble and pledge-bound Colonel Evans.
1900 Westm. Gaz. 20 Oct. 4/3 An absolute united pledge-bound party returns to represent Ireland at Westminster.
2003 United News of Bangladesh (Nexis) 26 July The Relief Minister said the government is pledge-bound to revive the past glory of the country's jute industry.
pledge-free adj.
ΚΠ
1907 N.E.D. at Pledge Pledge-free.
2002 Arizona Republic (Nexis) 8 May b8 This long ago pledge-free America sent its young men into battle in Europe and the Far East.
C3. † pledge chamber n. (also pledge chalmer) Scottish Obsolete a place for the confinement of sureties or debtors.† pledge-house n. Scottish Obsolete = pledge chamber n.† pledge-mania n. Obsolete rare a collective enthusiasm for signing the pledge of abstinence.
pledge card n. (a) a card on which one may sign a temperance pledge; (b) North American a card on which one expresses willingness to contribute to a fund, sponsor a charity event, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > document containing
schedule1622
advance note1831
Citizen's Charter1851
pledge card1861
commission note1878
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > abstention from drinking > [noun] > pledge to abstain from drinking > card confirming
pledge card1861
1861 J. B. Wightman Ann. of Rescued 139 Family photographs, china images, our family pledge-cards handsomely framed,—these are amongst the cherished household treasures.
1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Jan. 15/1 ‘Pledge’ (temperance) cards and ‘Decision’ (conversion) cards interpolated their small crises.
1970 Toronto Daily Star 24 Sept. 17/5 Pledge cards for the walk are available at any Dominion store while anyone wishing to enter a team in the skatathon can call 889-3967.
1996 Independent 30 Mar. 13/5 Jenny signed a pledge card when Rodney Howard-Browne, a South African now based in Florida, brought his version of the Toronto Blessing to Earls Court last November.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prison > [noun] > for debtors
pounda1500
pledge chamber1577
hell1598
pledge-house1634
sponging-house1699
repository1785
jankers1916
1577 in C. T. McInnes Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1978) XIII. 172 David Maxwell javelour of the pledge chalmer of Dumfreis.
1629 in P. H. Brown Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1901) 2nd Ser. III. 12 They derned thameselffes in commodious parts ewest to the pledge chamber.
1640 Dumfries Burgh Treasurer's Accts. 11 in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Pleg(e Irne & leid to the laich pledge chalmer.
pledge-cup n. now rare a cup used for drinking pledges.
ΚΠ
a1844 E. Cook in U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. (1844) June 652 Then let the sacred pledge-cup flow.
1851 D. Wilson Archæol. & Prehistoric Ann. Scotl. iv. viii. 672 The pledge-cup and wassail bowl.
1938 A. Waley tr. Analects Confucius 100 A mound upon which to stand pledge-cups.
pledge drive n. chiefly U.S. a campaign soliciting pledges from members of the public to make a donation or perform an action.
ΚΠ
1917 Chicago Commerce 25 Apr. 17/1 Effort will be made to see every person in the state and make sure that Illinois lends in this simple and safe way $100,000,000 more to win the war. The pledge drive is to be intensive and attractive.
1951 Boston Sunday Globe 2 Dec. 21/1 Hundreds of students are expected to donate blood during the period as the result of a pledge drive.
1979 Billboard 9 June 20/5 A recently ended 10 day pledge drive netted the station its full goal of $13,000.
2014 Inland Valley (Ont.) Daily Bull. (Nexis) 9 Apr. (News section) Students have started a pledge drive and are aiming for 100 percent of students to sign the pledge to remain sober.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prison > [noun] > for debtors
pounda1500
pledge chamber1577
hell1598
pledge-house1634
sponging-house1699
repository1785
jankers1916
1634 in Trans. Dumfries & Galloway Nat. Hist. & Antiquarian Soc. 3rd Ser. 3 306 For makyng ane new key to the laich pledghous and mending of the lok of the high pledghous.
1721 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. I. ii. xiii. §6 Mr. Webster and his two Friends..removed to the Pledge-house, where Debtors used to be put.
ΚΠ
1832 J. S. Mill Let. 17 Sept. in Wks. (1963) XII. 121 I should say that the pledge-mania had been abated.
pledge week n. North American a week during which people are encouraged to make a pledge to donate to charity, confirm a pledge to join a fraternity, etc.
ΚΠ
1917 Washington Post 29 Oct. 2/5 (headline) Wilson calls on all families to conserve food supply. 500,000 pushing pledge week.
1930 N.Y. Times 21 Dec. e7/3 The ever-growing dissatisfaction over rushing systems and the underhand activities of pledge week may be a sign of the waning of the fraternity system.
1986 W. W. Powell & R. J. Friedkin in P. J. DiMaggio Nonprofit Enterprise in Arts xi. 252 Connecticut Public Television recently conducted a pledge week with a ‘soft sell’ campaign.
2004 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) (Nexis) 29 Sept. 4 a Aside from moving pledge week, [he] did not announce any new initiatives to combat sexual harassment or alcohol abuse.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
pledgev.
/plɛdʒ/, U.S. /plɛdʒ/ a. transitive. To become surety for, make oneself responsible for (a person, thing, or statement). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > pledge or deposit as security [verb (transitive)] > be or give surety for
wage1362
awarranta1400
pledge?a1439
warrant1478
to seal under1523
warrantise?1533
borrow1609
undertake1609
suretya1616
stipulate1737
guaranty1753
guarantee1797
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. 474 (MED) Ther is non dar plegge the for dreede.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. iv. 48 His felawe pleggid hym and was sewrte for hym.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 35 (MED) Ye have plegged me [Fr. vous maues pleui] vpon youre lyves that I shall have no drede of deth.
b. transitive. to pledge out: to redeem (a thing) from pledge or pawn; to ransom or bail (a person) out of prison, servitude, etc. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > bailing or bail > bail or admit to bail [verb (transitive)] > go bail for
borrowa1300
to pledge out1446
bail1587
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > borrowing money > borrow money [verb (transitive)] > pawn > redeem from pawn or pledge
to pledge out1446
raquite1454
redeem1474
to take out of wed1483
in-borrow1541
inquit1541
disimpawn1631
1446 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1837) VI. 50 (MED) But yif he had be plegged oute þe hastier..he shold have be condempned in iiij c marc.
1464 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 266 Delyveryd to Mechegod to plege owt Brokys salatt, xij d.
1503 in Test. Vetusta II. 454 Such pledges as she hath of mine, I woll they be pledged out by William, and he to have them.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xl. 56 So [they] brought hym to the lorde Beaumonde who incontynent dyde pledge hym out fro his maisters handes.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 660/1 I pledge, or borowe one out of prison or captyvyte, or redeme a thyng out of pledge, je pledge. To my great coste and charge I have pledged hym out of prison.
c. intransitive. To become surety (for a person or thing). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > give assurance or stand surety [verb (intransitive)]
to lay one's life, head, to wed971
to find (take) God, Mahoun, St. Blase, St. George, etc. to borrowa1330
again-behotea1382
to make (also do) faitha1382
pledge1458
to make (also give) warrantisea1535
undertake1548
subscribe1600
underwrite1623
seal1633
underwritea1657
hedge1676
vouch1687
to stand surety (or security)1776
to take warrant on oneself1828
stipulate1829
1458 Extracts Rec. in W. Chambers Charters Burgh Peebles (1872) 125 John his fader plegis for all that langis him.
?1548 in A. I. Cameron Sc. Corr. Mary of Lorraine (1927) 268 I..hes haldin the saidis master with uder thre plegen for the ransom of the rest.
1574 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1878) 1st Ser. II. 422 To caus all his freindis or servandis within Annanderdaill not ellis plegit for, to entir under plegis.
2.
a. transitive. To guarantee, give a solemn assurance of; (also) to promise, or undertake to give.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > promise or vow [verb (transitive)] > pledge or undertake to give or do
sweara1154
fast?a1160
plightc1275
givec1300
undertake1393
strokea1400
warranta1400
foldc1400
pledge?a1439
affiance1523
pass1528
betroth1573
assume1602
impawna1628
gagea1642
spond1698
guarantee1820
vouch1898
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > promise or vow [verb (transitive)] > guarantee
fast?a1160
pledge?a1439
assure1447
ensure1460
avouch1548
ratify1599
seal1628
underwrite1838
warrant1849
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. 482 (MED) Plegge thi feith.
c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 156 (MED) He pleggid to þe saide Abbot x marke of sterlynges.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. iii. 250 Yes, I accept her, for she well deserues it, And heere to pledge my Vow, I giue my hand. View more context for this quotation
1798 T. Jefferson Public Papers 455 The friendly strangers to whom the mild spirit of our country and its laws have pledged hospitality and protection.
1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest III. xiii. 288 Their own personal service they pledged at once.
1912 H. Adams Mont-Saint-Michel & Chartres ix. 137 They [sc. the Barons] sent to France for help, and offered the crown of England to young Louis, whose father, Philip Augustus, called a council which pledged support to Louis.
1923 Nebraska State Jrnl. 16 Jan. A member of the club rose and said that she had pledged money to the fund.
2004 Atlanta Jrnl. & Constit. (Nexis) 1 Oct. 11 a The president pledged aid to help victims recover.
b. transitive. To promise solemnly (to do something).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > promise, vow, or pledge [verb (intransitive)]
queatheOE
sweara900
fangc1175
behightc1275
to make (hold, pay, keep, yield or break) a vowc1290
vowa1325
avowc1400
to plight (one's) faithc1410
promitc1422
promise1447
creance1477
to take in vow1526
votec1540
depose1610
vum1785
to nail down1859
pledge1928
1928 Sunday Disp. 2 Sept. 1/3 On my pledging not to disclose his name..he promptly handed over another cheque for £10,000.
1972 L. B. Johnson Vantage Point xx. 462 Nations with nuclear weapons pledged to work toward effective arms control and disarmament.
2004 Lab Business Week (Nexis) 24 Oct. 246 World leaders from 189 countries pledged to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters.
3.
a. transitive. To deposit or assign as security for the repayment of a loan or the performance of an action; to pawn.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > pledge or deposit as security [verb (transitive)]
setc1000
plight?c1225
lay1297
wagec1330
to lay to borrowc1405
pledgea1475
impledge1548
pawn1570
impawn1598
deposita1640
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1906) ii. 455 (MED) He..myght not plegge, selle, nother encrease the rent ne..aliene the forsaid lond.
c1530 A. Barclay Egloges i. sig. F v His swerde & buckler, is pleggyd at the bear.
1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 233 My estates and dignities are as it were in sequestration, and my life as it were laid in pawne & pledged vnto me.
1686 London Gaz. No. 2105/4 If already sold or pawn'd,..the money [shall be] return'd for what they are pledg'd for.
1767 W. Guthrie et al. Gen. Hist. World XII. 375 [Swen's] being taken prisoner by the Vandals, the Danish ladies pledged their jewels for his ransom.
1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) x. 112 The..son pacing slowly to the pawnbroker's to pledge his aged mother's last blanket.
1877 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People I. ii. ii. 139 Normandy had been pledged to him by his brother Robert.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xii. [Cyclops] 281 The said nonperishable goods shall not be pawned or pledged or sold or otherwise alienated by the said purchaser.
1964 E. Huxley Back Street New Worlds x. 100 For one thing he can't possibly afford it; he's sold and pledged and mortgaged everything he's got to come himself.
1992 N.Y. Times 16 Aug. iii. 11/3 Let married couples pledge their children for secured bank loans.
b. transitive. figurative. To promise by the pledge of; to plight or stake (one's life, future, honour, word, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > pledge or deposit as security [verb (transitive)] > one's life, honour, etc.
wagec1430
gagec1547
pawna1566
engage1568
wager1640
parole1664
pledge1775
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i My vows are pledged to her.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. ii. 67 I now pledge you that honourable word, that Ellena is innocent.
1841 G. P. R. James Brigand xxv To this I pledge my honour.
1890 Spectator 4 Oct. 434/1 To pledge the future to the hilt is a temporary and evanescent joy.
1905 Baroness Orczy Scarlet Pimpernel xix. 180 Their mysterious leader had pledged his honour to bring the fugitive Comte de Tournay safely out of France.
1996 Akron (Ohio) Beacon Jrnl. (Nexis) 1 Dec. a1 I have pledged my honor and my life..to secure the future of our children.
4. transitive. To drink with or to (a person) as a gesture of fidelity, goodwill, etc.: †(a) to give assurance or promise of friendship or allegiance by the act of drinking together; (also) to drink in response to another; to drink to a health or toast which has been proposed (obsolete); (b) to drink to the health of, drink a toast to; to toast (now somewhat archaic).Formerly occasionally intransitive, or with drink as object.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > drink toasts or healths
hailc1275
to drink (a person's) hailc1325
to drink good lucka1529
pledge1546
carouse1583
skola1599
to drink off (or eat) candle-ends1600
health1628
to begin to a person1629
bumper1691
toast1699
to drink hob or nob, hob a nob1756
hob-nob1763
hobber-nob1800
to look towards (a person)1833
propine1887
ganbei1940
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > pledge or toast
to drink to1530
pledge1546
brince?1567
brinks1568
carouse1583
dipa1657
toast1700
respect1708
bumper?1764
to look toward ——1833
propine1887
skol1935
ganbei1976
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > pledge or toast > drink in response to
pledge1546
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. iv. sig. Giiv I drynke (quoth she) Quoth he, I will not pledge.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 116 He dranke a great draught, the king pledging him.
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. G2 v You doo me the disgrace if you doo not pledge me as much as I drunke to you.
1616 B. Jonson Forrest ix. 2 in Wks. I Drinke to me, onely, with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine.
a1627 in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1872) III. Ps. lxix. 10 God handleth thee no otherwise..than he handled his only Son, who hath pledged thee in this bitter potion.
1706 J. Potter Archæologia Græca (ed. 2) II. iv. xx. 396 Alexander..is reported to have drank a Cup containing two Congii,..to Proteas, who commending the king's Ability, pledg'd him, then call'd for another Cup of the same Dimensions, and drank it off to him.
1716 A. Pope Full Acct. E. Curll 3 Mr. Pope..very civilly drank a Glass of Sack to Mr. Curll, which he as civilly pledged.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer ii. 24 Will you, be so good as to pledge me, sir?
1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 210 Pledge him in a bumper of port.
1855 C. Kingsley Heroes (1868) ii. v. 169 In his hand a sculptured goblet, as he pledged the merchant kings.
1892 New Eng. Mag. Oct. 159/2 Gracefully choosing his successor and pledging him in sparkling wine.
1940 J. Betjeman Old Lights for New Chancels 51 I pledge her in non-alcoholic wine.
1994 P. O'Brian Commodore (1996) i. 9 The civil Dundas had added particular compliments to Sophie and Diana, pledging both in bumpers bottoms up.
5.
a. transitive. To put (a person) under a pledge; to bind by or as by a pledge. Frequently reflexive. Usually with to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > promise or vow [verb (transitive)] > bind by a promise
conjurec1290
to speak for ——a1300
avow1303
adjurea1425
surec1460
arrest1489
gage1489
insure1530
pledge1571
fiance1592
objure1609
sacrament1621
attest1685
1571 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxviii. 97 Be justice airis I pledgit all the pepill, Than spairit nane thocht thay wer Innocent.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lxv. 301 I pledge myself, before God and my country..to make good my charge against you.
1801 E. Helme St. Margaret's Cave II. viii. 175 I here pledge myself, by all my hopes of happiness hereafter.
1836 C. Dickens Let. ?19 Nov. (1965) I. 198 He could not..pledge himself whether it would appear this season, or whether they would begin with it, at the opening of the next.
1883 Manch. Examiner 1 Dec. 5/1 A resolution..pledging the House to deal with the subject at the first fitting opportunity.
1931 A. Uttley Country Child vii. 94 She hid her half-crown under her mattress, but Becky discovered it and had to be pledged to secrecy.
1962 E. Roosevelt Autobiogr. iii. xxxiii. 269 The only helpful thing we can do..is to pledge ourselves to work to eliminate the causes of war.
2004 New Straits Times (Malaysia) (Nexis) 11 Apr. 3 A doctor solemnly pledges himself or herself to the service of humanity.
b. transitive. U.S. To enrol (a student) in a sorority or fraternity. Of a student: to enrol in or promise to join (a sorority or fraternity). Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > [verb (transitive)] > become member of
enter1517
join1716
pledge1856
society > education > educational administration > university administration > [verb (transitive)] > enrol in society
pledge1856
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > [verb (intransitive)] > become a member
enter1389
join1716
to sign up1875
pledge1887
society > education > educational administration > university administration > [verb (intransitive)] > enrol in society
pledge1887
1856 Knickerbocker Dec. 555 With more quiet but busy effort, each selects and ‘pledges’ the best men it can lay hands upon.
1887 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. Nov. 741 If as a result of several such interviews he is approved, he is asked to ‘pledge’, that is, to promise to join the society.
1949 Reader's Digest Aug. 69/1 The rushing season, during which freshmen are pledged to the various houses, was in full swing.
1995 Jewish Women's Forum May 6/2 In high school I knew her as Melanie Kaye and we pledged the same sorority.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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