Pledge

(plēj), n. [O. Fr. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, Pr. plieu, pleya, O. It. pieggio, pieggeria, L. Lat. plegium, plivium, O. Fr. & Pr. plevir, to bail, guaranty, L. Lat. plegiare, plegire, plere, plivire, plevis­sare, probably from Lat. præbere, to proffer, offer (sc. fidem), trust, a promise of security. Cf. PLEVIN.] 1. Something put in pawn; personal property delivered to, or deposited with, another as a security for a debt or engagement; the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; a pawn; a gage. ☞ 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. Any thing given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; as, a man gives his word or makes a promise to another, which is received as a pledge for fulfillment; the mutual affection of husband and wife is a pledge for the faithful performance of the marriage covenant; mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. “Their liveliest pledge of hope.” Milton.
3. A surety; a hostage. “I am Grumio’s pledge.” Shak.
4. (Former Eng. Law.) A person who undertook or became responsible for another; a bail; a surety.
5. The wishing of health to another. “Suppose that you winked at our friends drinking these pledges.” W. Scott.

Dead pledge [Lat. mortuum vadium] (Law), a mortgage. See MORTGAGE.—Living pledge [Lat. vivum vadium] (Law), the conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until payment out of the rents and profits.—To hold in pledge, to keep as security.—To put in pledge, to pawn. Syn.—See EARNEST.

[imp. & p. p. PLEDGED; p. pr. & vb. n. PLEDGING.] [O. Fr. pleiger, to give security. See supra.]

1. To deposit in pawn; to deposit or leave as security; to give as a warrant.
2. To secure by a pledge. [Obs.]

I accept her, And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. Shak.

3. To engage for by promise or declaration; as, to pledge the performance of a thing.
4. To invite, as another person, to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to the other, as a pledge of good will and kindness; hence, to drink the health of.

Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise. Cowley.