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PLIGHT
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A solemn pledge of fidelity
Synonyms:
plight; troth
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("plight" is a kind of...):
assurance; pledge (a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something)
Derivation:
plight (promise solemnly and formally)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
Example:
the woeful plight of homeless people
Synonyms:
plight; predicament; quandary
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("plight" is a kind of...):
difficulty (a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "plight"):
care (a cause for feeling concern)
box; corner (a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible)
hot water (a dangerous or distressing predicament)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Promise solemnly and formally
Example:
I pledge that I will honor my wife
Synonyms:
pledge; plight
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "plight" is one way to...):
assure; promise (make a promise or commitment)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "plight"):
vow (make a vow; promise)
guarantee; vouch (give surety or assume responsibility)
covenant (enter into a covenant or formal agreement)
covenant (enter into a covenant)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Derivation:
plight (a solemn pledge of fidelity)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Give to in marriage
Synonyms:
affiance; betroth; engage; plight
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "plight" is one way to...):
vow (make a vow; promise)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Context examples:
The Winkies lifted him tenderly in their arms, and carried him back to the Yellow Castle again, Dorothy shedding a few tears by the way at the sad plight of her old friend, and the Lion looking sober and sorry.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
The varieties in the fitting-up of the rooms, where the common necessaries provided by the owner, in the common indifferent plight, were contrasted with some few articles of a rare species of wood, excellently worked up, and with something curious and valuable from all the distant countries Captain Harville had visited, were more than amusing to Anne; connected as it all was with his profession, the fruit of its labours, the effect of its influence on his habits, the picture of repose and domestic happiness it presented, made it to her a something more, or less, than gratification.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
On this I plucked off the gown, and he with much show of haste did begin to undo his points; but when I threw his frock down he clipped it up and ran off all untrussed, leaving me in this sorry plight.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The boat was close at hand now, and in desperate plight.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
In the latter case we should have been in a bad plight.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
That have I, he answered, and close; but I care not to go nigh him in this plight, for his wife hath a gibing tongue, and will spread the tale until I could not show my face in any market from Fordingbridge to Southampton.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
This is a way of life which reminds me of the period when I was myself in a state of celibacy, and Mrs. Micawber had not yet been solicited to plight her faith at the Hymeneal altar.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
I am taken home in a sad plight, and I have beef-steaks put to my eyes, and am rubbed with vinegar and brandy, and find a great puffy place bursting out on my upper lip, which swells immoderately.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
