different between pledge vs understanding

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?nd??stand??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??nd??stænd??/
• Rhymes: -ænd??
• Hyphenation: un?der?stand?ing

Noun

understanding (countable and uncountable, plural understandings) (with of, but with for in sense of "sympathy")

1. (gerund, uncountable) The act of one that understands or comprehends; comprehension; knowledge; discernment.
2. (countable) Reason or intelligence, ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge, ability to infer.
3. (countable) Opinion, judgement or outlook.

4. (countable) An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon.
   1. An informal contract; mutual agreement.

   2. A reconciliation of differences.

5. (uncountable) Sympathy.

Derived terms

• peace that passeth understanding

Translations

See also

• intellection

Adjective

understanding (comparative more understanding, superlative most understanding)

1. Showing compassion.
2. (dated) Knowing; skilful.

Translations

Verb

understanding

1. present participle of understand