Part 339

Fitzed. Hall.

||Ple`bis*ci"tum (?), n. [L., fr. plebs, plebis, common people + scitum ||decree.] (Rom. Antiq.) A law enacted by the common people, under the ||superintendence of a tribune or some subordinate plebeian magistrate, ||without the intervention of the senate.

Plec"tile (?), a. [L. plectilis.] Woven; plaited. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

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Plec"tog*nath (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi. - - n. One of the Plectognathi.

||Plec*to"gna*thi (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; twisted (fr. &?; to ||plait, twist) + &?; jaw.] (Zoˆl.) An order of fishes generally having ||the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, and the articular ||united with the dentary.

The upper jaw is immovably joined to the skull; the ventral fins are rudimentary or wanting; and the body is covered with bony plates, spines, or small rough ossicles, like shagreen. The order includes the diodons, filefishes, globefishes, and trunkfishes.

{ Plec`tog*nath"ic (?), Plec-tog"na*thous (?), } a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi.

||Plec`to*spon"dy*li (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; plaited + &?;, &?;, ||a vertebra.] (Zoˆl.) An extensive suborder of fresh-water ||physostomous fishes having the anterior vertebrÊ united and much ||modified; the Eventognathi.

Plec`to*spon"dy*lous (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectospondyli.

||Plec"trum (?), n.; pl. L. Plectra (#), E. Plectrums (#). [L., fr. Gr. ||&?; anything to strike with, fr.&?; to strike.] A small instrument of ||ivory, wood, metal, or quill, used in playing upon the lyre and other ||stringed instruments.

Pled (?), imp. & p. p. of Plead [Colloq.] Spenser.

Pledge (?), n. [OF. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium, plivium; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer (sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play. &radic;28. Cf. Prebend, Replevin.] 1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn.

Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [see Mortgage]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See Hypotheca. Story. Kent.

2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. "I am Grumio's pledge." Shak.

3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession.

4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. "That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope." Milton.

5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges.

6. A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health.

Dead pledge. [A translation of LL. mortuum vadium.] (Law) A mortgage. See Mortgage. -- Living pledge. [A translation of LL. vivum vadium.] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until the debt is paid out of the rents and profits. -- To hold in pledge, to keep as security. -- To put in pledge, to pawn; to give as security.

Syn. -- See Earnest.

Pledge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pledged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pledging.] [Cf. OF. pleiger to give security. See Pledge, n.] 1. To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch.

2. To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor.

We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

The Declaration of Independence.

3. To secure performance of, as by a pledge. [Obs.]

To pledge my vow, I give my hand.

Shak.