pledge

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. promise, security, gage, pawn, collateral, hostage, deposit; word, troth, vow, guarantee; bond, oath. See affirmation. —v. t. deposit, wage, pawn, hock (sl.), hypothecate, mortgage; vow, promise, undertake, engage, honor; toast. See debt.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

Syn. guarantee, promise, token, pawn, earnest, hostage, security, collateral, surety, warrant, warranty, guaranty, gage, agreement, oath, word, word of honor, assurance, vow, solemn word, commitment, obligation, covenant, compact, contract, bail, bond, escrow; see also promise .

• take the pledge,

Syn. vow, swear off, go on the wagon; see promise 1 .

Syn.- pledge , in this comParison, applies to anything given as security for the performance of an act or contract or for the payment of a debt [ he gave her a ring as a pledge] ; earnest applies to anything given or done as an indication, promise, or assurance of more to follow [ her early triumphs are an earnest of her success ] ; token is used of anything serving or given as evidence of authority, genuineness, good faith, etc. [ this watch is a token of our gratitude ] ; pawn now usually refers to an article left as security for the money lent on it by a pawnbroker; hostage is applied to a person handed over as a pledge for the fulfillment of certain terms or one seized and kept to force others to comply with demands v.

1. [To give security]

Syn. sign for, pawn, give bond; see guarantee 2 .

2. [To promise]

Syn. swear, vow, vouch; see promise 1 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. promise vow, word of honor, oath, guarantee, contract, assurance, agreement.

2. security bond, collateral, guaranty, surety, stake, earnest money.

II

v.

promise, vow, give one s word, guarantee, swear, contract, pawn.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. A declaration that one will or will not do a certain thing: assurance, covenant, engagement, guarantee, guaranty, plight2, promise, solemn word, vow, warrant, word, word of honor. See OBLIGATION. 2. Something given to guarantee the repayment of a loan or the fulfillment of an obligation: earnest2, guaranty, pawn1, security, token, warrant. See TRANSACTIONS. 3. The act of drinking to someone: toast. See DESIRE, REMEMBER. II verb 1. To guarantee by a solemn promise: covenant, plight2, promise, swear, vow. Idiom: give one's word of honor. See AGREE, OBLIGATION. 2. To assume an obligation: contract, engage, promise, undertake. See AGREE, OBLIGATION. 3. To be morally bound to do: bind, charge, commit, obligate. See OBLIGATION. 4. To give or deposit as a pawn: hypothecate, mortgage, pawn1. Slang: hock. See TRANSACTIONS. 5. To salute by raising and drinking from a glass: drink, toast. See DESIRE, REMEMBER.