plight

n.

A situation, especially a bad or unfortunate one. See synonyms at predicament.

[Middle English, alteration (influenced by plight, risky promise or pledge) of plit, fold, wrinkle, situation, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin plicitum, neuter past participle of plicāre, to fold.]

plight² (plīt)
tr.v., plight·ed, plight·ing, plights.

1. To promise or bind by a solemn pledge, especially to betroth.
2. To give or pledge (one's word or oath, for example).

n.

A solemn pledge, as of faith.

idiom:

plight (one's) troth

1. To become engaged to marry.
2. To give one's solemn oath.

[Middle English plighten, from Old English plihtan, to endanger, put at risk, from pliht, danger, risk.]

plighter plight'er n.

noun

A difficult, often embarrassing situation or condition: box¹, corner, deep water, difficulty, dilemma, Dutch, fix, hole, hot spot, hot water, jam, predicament, quagmire, scrape, soup, trouble. Informal bind, pickle, spot. See easy/hard.

plight²

verb

To guarantee by a solemn promise: covenant, pledge, promise, swear, vow. Idioms: give one's word of honor. See agree/disagree, obligation.

noun

A declaration that one will or will not do a certain thing: assurance, covenant, engagement, guarantee, guaranty, pledge, promise, solemn word, vow, warrant, word, word of honor. See obligation.

n

Definition: dilemma, difficulty
Antonyms: blessing, boon, good fortune

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IN BRIEF: A state or situation, often an unhappy one.

A little frog fell into a large wagon wheel rut. He tried to get out but he could not. A frog friend heard of his plight and come to help. He found his friend out of the rut. "How did you do it?" "I had to," replied the frog. "A wagon was coming." — Unknown, from www.zaadz.com

Dansk (Danish)
1.
n. - tilstand

2.
v. tr. - forpligte
n. - forpligtelse

Nederlands (Dutch)
toestand, lot, in onderpand geven, in gevaar brengen

Français (French)
1.
n. - condition/état critique, situation désespérée

2.
v. tr. - engager sa foi (arch), se fiancer
n. - fiançailles

Deutsch (German)
1.
n. - Notlage

2.
v. - sich verloben, Treue schwÖren
n. - Notlage

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (δυσάρεστη) κατάσταση, χάλι, δεινή θέση

Italiano (Italian)
situazione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - condição (f), situação (f), compromisso (m)

Русский (Russian)
трудное положение

Español (Spanish)
1.
n. - situación difícil, apuro, aprieto, condición, estado

2.
v. tr. - empeñar la palabra, prometer, dar palabra de matrimonio
n. - promesa, compromiso, palabra de matrimonio

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - belägenhet, högtidligt löfte, pant

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
1. 境况, 困境, 苦境

2. 发誓, 保证, 誓约, 婚约

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
1.
v. tr. - 發誓, 保證
n. - 誓約, 婚約

2.
n. - 境況, 困境, 苦境

한국어 (Korean)
1.
n. - 곤경

2.
v. tr. - 서약[맹세]하다, ~와 약혼하다
n. - 맹세, 약혼

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ひどい状態, 苦境

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) قطع على نفسه عهدا, تعاهدا على الزواج, ورطه, مأزق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תסבוכת, צרה, מצב חמור, מצב‬
v. tr. - ‮הבטיח, התחייב‬
n. - ‮הבטיח, התחייב, תסבוכת, צרה, מצב חמור, מצב‬

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