plight

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

plight¹ /plaɪt/   n. [countable* singular]

1. a distressing situation:
   in a sorry plight.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

plight¹  (plīt), n. 

1. a condition, state, or situation, esp. an unfavorable or unfortunate one:
   to find oneself in a sorry plight.

• Anglo-French (cognate with Middle French pleit plait) fold, manner of folding, condition; spelling, spelled apparently influenced by plight² in obsolete sense "danger''
• Middle English plit fold, condition, bad condition 1350–1400

Synonyms

case. See predicament. 

plight²  (plīt), v.t. 

1. to pledge (one's troth) in engagement to marry.
2. to bind (someone) by a pledge, esp. of marriage.
3. to give in pledge, as one's word, or to pledge, as one's honor.

n. 

4. [Archaic.] pledge.

• bef. 1000; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English pliht danger, risk; cognate with Dutch plicht, German Pflicht duty, obligation; (verb, verbal) Middle English plighten, Old English plihtan (derivative of the noun, nominal) to endanger, risk, pledge; cognate with Old High German phlichten to engage oneself, Middle Dutch plihten to guarantee

plight′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

plight / plaɪt/ noun

1. a condition of extreme hardship, danger, etc

Etymology: 14th Century plit, from Old French pleit fold, plait; probably influenced by Old English pliht peril, plight²

plight / plaɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to promise formally or pledge (allegiance, support, etc)
2. plight one's troth ⇒ to make a promise of marriage

noun

1. a solemn promise, esp of engagement; pledge

Etymology: Old English pliht peril; related to Old High German, German Pflicht duty

ˈplighter noun