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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Pledge \Pledge\, noun [OF. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium, plivium; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer (sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play. [root]28. Cf. {Prebend}, {Replevin}.]
1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn.
Note: Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [see {Mortgage}]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See {Hypotheca}. --Story. Kent.
2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. ''I am Grumio's pledge.'' --Shak.
3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession.
4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. ''That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope.'' --Milton.
5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges.
6. A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health.
{Dead pledge}. [A translation of {LL}. mortuum vadium.] (Law) A mortgage. See {Mortgage}.
{Living pledge}. [A translation of LL. vivum vadium.] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until the debt is paid out of the rents and profits.
{To hold in pledge}, to keep as security.
{To put in pledge}, to pawn; to give as security.
Syn: See {Earnest}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Pledge \Pledge\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Pledged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pledging}.] [Cf. OF. pleiger to give security. See {Pledge}, n.]
1. To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch.
2. To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor.
We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. --The Declaration of Independence.
3. To secure performance of, as by a pledge. [Obs.]
To pledge my vow, I give my hand. --Shak.
4. To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; as, to pledge one's self.
5. To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast.
Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise. --Cowley.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
pledge
noun
1: a deposit of personal property as security for a debt; "his saxophone was in pledge"
2: someone accepted for membership but not yet fully admitted to the group
3: a drink in honor of or to the health of a person or event [syn: {toast}]
4: a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something; "an assurance of help when needed"; "signed a pledge never to reveal the secret" [syn: {assurance}]
verb
1: promise solemnly and formally; "I pledge that will honor my wife" [syn: {plight}]
2: pay (an amount of money) as a contribution to a charity or service, especially at regular intervals; "I pledged $10 a month to my favorite radio station" [syn: {subscribe}]
3: propose a toast to; "Let us toast the birthday girl!"; "Let's drink to the New Year" [syn: {toast}, {drink}, {salute}, {wassail}]
4: give as a guarantee; "I pledge my honor"
5: bind or secure by a pledge; "I was pledged to silence"
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
187 Moby Thesaurus words for "pledge": Bible oath, Greek, accounts payable, accounts receivable, affiliate, agree, amount due, associate, assurance, assure, avouch, avouchment, avow, bad debts, bail, belonger, bib, bill, bills, bind, bond, booze, borrowing, bottomry, brother, card-carrier, card-carrying member, cardholder, charges, charter member, cheer, chip in, chits, clubber, clubman, clubwoman, collateral, commit, committeeman, comrade, confide, consign, contract, contribute, contribute to, conventioneer, conventioner, conventionist, countersign, covenant, debt, deposit, dip, donate to, drain the cup, drink, drink in, drink off, drink to, drink up, due, dues, dues-paying member, earnest, earnest money, engage, enlistee, enrollee, entrust, escrow, extrajudicial oath, faith, fellow, financial commitment, floating debt, fraternity man, funded debt, gage, gift, gift with, give to, go bail, guarantee, guaranty, guildsman, guzzle, handsel, health, hock, honorary member, hostage, hypothecate, imbibe, impignorate, indebtedness, indebtment, initiate, insider, ironclad oath, joiner, judicial oath, kick in, liability, life member, loyalty oath, mainprise, make a promise, make imperative, make incumbent, maturity, member, mortgage, national debt, oath, oath of allegiance, oath of office, obligate, obligation, oblige, official oath, one of us, outstanding debt, parole, pass, pawn, pignus, plight, pop, post, promise, public debt, pull, put in hock, put in pawn, put up, quaff, recognizance, replevin, replevy, require, saddle with, score, security, sip, sister, socius, solemn declaration, solemn oath, sorority girl, sorority woman, spout, stake, subscribe, suck, suck in, suckle, sup, surety, swear, sweeten the kitty, swig, swill, test oath, tie, tipple, toast, token, token payment, toss down, toss off, tribute, troth, uncollectibles, undertake, undertaking, underwrite, unfulfilled pledge, vadimonium, vadium, vouch, vouchsafe, vow, warrant, warranty, wash down, word, word of honor
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Pledge See {LOAN}.
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