Pledge
WordNet
noun
(1) A binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
"An assurance of help when needed"
"Signed a pledge never to reveal the secret"
(2) A drink in honor of or to the health of a person or event
(3) Someone accepted for membership but not yet fully admitted to the group
(4) A deposit of personal property as security for a debt
"His saxophone was in pledge"
verb
(5) Promise solemnly and formally
"I pledge that will honor my wife"
(6) Bind or secure by a pledge
"I was pledged to silence"
(7) Give as a guarantee
"I pledge my honor"
(8) Propose a toast to
"Let us toast the birthday girl!"
"Let's drink to the New Year"
(9) Pay (an amount of money) as a contribution to a charity or service, especially at regular intervals
"I pledged $10 a month to my favorite radio station"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From plege from plege from plege (Modern pleige) from plevium, plebium from plebire "to pledge", of origin, from *plegan "to pledge, support, guarantee" from from . Akin to pflegan "to take care of, be accustomed to", plegan "to vouch for", plēon "to risk, endanger". More at plight.