pledge

/ˈplej/

Middle English plegge, plege "surety for a person, guarantor," borrowed from Anglo-French (also continental Old & Middle French plege, pleige), going back to early Medieval Latin plebium, plevium, plibium, noun derivative (with the Latin deverbal suffix -ium) of plebere "to give surety," probably blend of Latin praebeō, praebēre "to put forward, offer, provide" and an Old Low Franconian verb *plegan- cognate with Old Saxon plegan "to accept responsibility (for)," Middle Dutch pleghen "to look after," Old High German pflegan "to look (after), bear responsibility, vouch (for)"

noun

  1. a bailment of a chattel as security for a debt or other obligation without involving transfer of title

  2. the chattel so delivered

  3. the contract incidental to such a bailment

verb

  1. to make a pledge of; especially : pawn

  2. to drink to the health of

  3. to bind by a pledge

noun phrase

  1. a formal promise of loyalty to the United States that groups of people say together