Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Plight?

\Plight\, obs. imp. & p. p. of {Plight}, to pledge. --Chaucer.
\Plight\, obs. imp. & p. p. of {Pluck}. --Chaucer.
\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.''
\Plight\, n. A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. [Obs.] ``Many a folded 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. 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. To bring our craft all in another plight --Chaucer.
\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. He plighted his right hand Unto another love, and to another land. --Spenser. Here my inviolable faith I plight. --Dryden. 2. To promise; to engage; to betroth. Before its setting hour, divide The bridegroom from the plighted bride. --Sir W. Scott.