| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024pledge /plɛdʒ/USA pronunciation n., v., pledged, pledg•ing. n. [countable] - a solemn promise to do or stop doing something:a pledge of economic aid to the newly independent countries.
- something left behind as security or proof that one will pay a debt or keep a promise.
- something given or thought of as a token, as of friendship or love:Take this ring as a pledge of my love.
- a person accepted for membership in a club, but not yet formally initiated.
v. - to bind (someone) by or as if by a pledge or promise:[~ + object + to + object]pledged everyone to secrecy.
- to promise solemnly: [~ + object]to pledge support.[~ + to + verb + object]She pledged to support him in the upcoming election.[~ + that clause]He pledged that he would never betray the trust of the American people.
Idioms- Idioms take the pledge, to make a vow not to drink alcoholic beverages.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024pledge (plej),USA pronunciation n., v., pledged, pledg•ing. n. - a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something:a pledge of aid; a pledge not to wage war.
- something delivered as security for the payment of a debt or fulfillment of a promise, and subject to forfeiture on failure to pay or fulfill the promise.
- the state of being given or held as security:to put a thing in pledge.
- [Law.]
- the act of delivering goods, property, etc., to another for security.
- the resulting legal relationship.
- something given or regarded as a security.
- a person accepted for membership in a club, fraternity, or sorority, but not yet formally approved.
- an assurance of support or goodwill conveyed by drinking a person's health;
a toast. - [Obs.]
- a hostage.
- a person who becomes bail or surety for another.
- Idioms take the pledge, to make a solemn, formal vow to abstain from intoxicating drink.
v.t. - to bind by or as if by a pledge:to pledge hearers to secrecy.
- to promise solemnly:to pledge one's support.
- to give or deposit as a pledge;
pawn. - to stake, as one's honor.
- to secure by a pledge;
give a pledge for. - to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership.
- to drink a health or toast to.
v.i. - to make or give a pledge:to pledge for someone.
- to drink a pledge;
toast someone's health, success, etc.
- Gmc; compare Old English plēon to risk, German pflegen to look after. See plight2
- early Medieval Latin plevium, plebium, derivative of plebīre to pledge
- Anglo-French
- Middle English plege 1275–1325
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged warranty, surety, guaranty.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: pledge /plɛdʒ/ n - a formal or solemn promise or agreement, esp to do or refrain from doing something
- collateral for the payment of a debt or the performance of an obligation
- the condition of being collateral (esp in the phrase in pledge)
- a sign, token, or indication: the gift is a pledge of their sincerity
- an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toast: we drank a pledge to their success
- a person who binds himself, as by becoming bail or surety for another
- sign the pledge, take the pledge ⇒ to make a vow to abstain from alcoholic drink
vb - to promise formally or solemnly
- (transitive) to bind or secure by or as if by a pledge: they were pledged to secrecy
- to give, deposit, or offer (one's word, freedom, property, etc) as a guarantee, as for the repayment of a loan
- to drink a toast to (a person, cause, etc)
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French plege, from Late Latin plebium gage, security, from plebīre to pledge, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German pflegan to look after, care forˈpledgable adj |