different between pledge vs handfast

English

Etymology

From Middle English plege, from Anglo-Norman plege, from Old French plege (Modern French pleige) from Medieval Latin plevium, plebium, from plebi? (“I pledge”), from Frankish *plehan (“to pledge; to support; to guarantee”). Akin to Old High German pflegan (“to take care of, be accustomed to”), Old Saxon plegan (“to vouch for”), Old English pl?on (“to risk, endanger”). More at plight.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pl?d?/
• Rhymes: -?d?

Verb

pledge (third-person singular simple present pledges, present participle pledging, simple past and past participle pledged)

1. To make a solemn promise (to do something).

2. To deposit something as a security; to pawn.
3. (transitive) To give assurance of friendship by the act of drinking; to drink to one's health.
   • 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer

     HARDCASTLE [Taking the cup.] I hope you'll find it to your mind. I have prepared it with my own hands, and I believe you'll own the ingredients are tolerable. Will you be so good as to pledge me, sir? Here, Mr. Marlow, here is to our better acquaintance. [Drinks.]

   • 1852, Matthew Arnold, Tristram and Iseult

     Reach me my golden cup that stands by thee,

     And pledge me in it first for courtesy.

Translations

Noun

pledge (plural pledges)

1. A solemn promise to do something.

   Synonym: commitment

   1. (with the) A promise to abstain from drinking alcohol.
2. (law) A bailment of personal property to secure payment of a debt without transfer of title.
   1. The personal property so pledged, to be kept until the debt is payed.

      Synonym: collateral

3. A person who has taken a pledge of allegiance to a college fraternity, but is not yet formally approved.
4. A drinking toast.

Derived terms

• antipledge, antipledging
• pledgeless

Translations

See also

• oath
• vow

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English hondfast, past participle of Middle English hondfesten (“to betroth”), from Old Norse handfesta (“to strike a bargain, pledge”), itself from hönd (“hand”) + festa (“to fasten, fix, affirm”) (compare see past- in Indo-European roots).

Noun

handfast (plural handfasts)

1. (obsolete) A hold, grasp; custody, power of confining or keeping.
2. (obsolete) A contract, agreement, covenant; specifically betrothal, espousal.

Translations

Verb

handfast (third-person singular simple present handfasts, present participle handfasting, simple past and past participle handfasted)

1. (transitive) To pledge; to bind
2. (transitive, Scotland, archaic or historical except Wicca) To betroth by joining hands, in order to allow for cohabitation before the celebration of marriage; to marry provisionally.

Adjective

handfast

1. (obsolete) Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bale to this entry?)

Etymology 2

Calque of German handfest, itself from Hand (“hand”) + fest (“firm, strong”).

Adjective

handfast (comparative more handfast, superlative most handfast)

1. (rare) Strong; steadfast.

Translations