pledge

pledge¹ [pledʒ] n

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1¦(promise)¦

2¦(money)¦

3¦(something valuable)¦

4¦(us colleges)¦

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[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: plege, from Late Latin plebium, from plebere 'to pledge']

1.) ¦(PROMISE)¦

formal a serious promise or agreement, especially one made publicly or officially

pledge of

▪ a pledge of support for the plan

pledge to do sth

▪ the government's pledge to make no deals with terrorists

make/take/give a pledge

▪ Parents make a pledge to take their children to rehearsals.

keep/fulfil/honour a pledge

▪ Eisenhower fulfilled his election pledge to end the war in Korea.

2.) ¦(MONEY)¦

a promise to give money to an organization

▪ Donors have made pledges totaling nearly $4 million.

pledge of

▪ a pledge of $200 to the public TV station

3.) ¦(SOMETHING VALUABLE)¦

something valuable that you leave with someone else as proof that you will do what you have agreed to do

4.) ¦(US COLLEGES)¦

someone who has promised to become a member of a ↑fraternity or ↑sorority at an American university

pledge ²

pledge² v [T]

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1¦(promise)¦

2¦(make somebody promise)¦

3¦(leave something)¦

4¦(us colleges)¦

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1.) ¦(PROMISE)¦

to make a formal, usually public, promise that you will do something

pledge sth to sth/sb

▪ Moore pledged $100,000 to the orchestra at the fund-raising dinner.

pledge to do sth

▪ The new governor pledged to reduce crime.

pledge that

▪ Herrera pledged that his company will give aid to schools.

pledge (your) support/loyalty/solidarity etc

▪ He pledged his cooperation.

pledge yourself to (do) sth

▪ Trade unions pledged themselves to resist the government plans.

2.) ¦(MAKE SOMEBODY PROMISE)¦

to make someone formally promise something

▪ Employees were pledged to secrecy .

3.) ¦(LEAVE SOMETHING)¦

to leave something with someone as a ↑pledge ¹(3)

4.) ¦(US COLLEGES)¦

to promise to become a member of a ↑fraternity or ↑sorority at an American university