Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

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

pledge

1 noun
     
Related topics: College
pledge1 [countable]
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 something
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

SEC someone who has promised to become a member of a fraternity or sorority at an American university
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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