plight etymology

Etymology:

• Old French: plite, plight ("condition, state")
• Proto-Germanic: pliht ("duty, obligation")
• Proto-Indo-European: *plek- ("to fold, braid")

Meaning:

• A difficult or distressing situation
• A promise or pledge

Origin:

The word "plight" originally referred to the "condition" or "state" of a person or thing. In Old French, it was used to describe a person's legal or financial situation, as well as their physical or emotional well-being.

Over time, the meaning of "plight" narrowed to refer to a difficult or distressing situation. This usage is first attested in the late 14th century. The word was also used to describe a promise or pledge, especially a marriage vow. This usage is first attested in the 15th century.

The Proto-Germanic root of "plight," pliht, also means "duty" or "obligation." This suggests that the word's original meaning was related to the concept of duty or responsibility. This connection is still evident in the modern usage of the word "plight," which often implies a moral or ethical obligation to help someone in distress.

plight relate terms

• plait

  Etymology and Origin The word plait originates from the Old French word pleite whic

• play

  Etymology The word play derives from the Middle English plaien which itself originat

• plight

  Etymology Old French plite plight condition state Proto Germanic pliht duty

• work

  Etymology The word work comes from the Old English word weorc which means to do t

• card

  Etymology The word card derives from the Latin word charta which originally meant

• field

  Etymology The word field derives from the Middle English word feld which itself is d

• predicament

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French prédicament from Late Latin praedicame

• quandary

  Etymology The word quandary comes from the Old French word quandenier which means

• pledge

  Etymology The word pledge comes from the Old English word plegg meaning a pledge

• strait

  Etymology Old English stræt Proto Germanic straita Ultimately from Latin strata

• schlemazel

  Etymology Yiddish שמאַזל shmaltsl from Medieval German schmalz fat grease

• amnesty

  Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀμνηστία amnēstía from ἀ a without

• tilt

  Etymology The word tilt has its origins in the Old French word tilter which means t

• vouch

  Etymology The word vouch comes from the Old French word voucher which in turn comes

• corner

  Etymology The word corner comes from the Old French word corn which in turn comes fr

• promise

  Etymology The word promise comes from the Old French word promesse which in turn de