PLEDGE

The Jewish law protected the poor who were obliged to give security for a loan or the fulfillment of a contract. If a man pawned his robe, the usual covering of the cool nights, it must be returned on the same day, Ex 22:26-27. The creditor could not enter a house and take what he pleased; and the millstone being a necessary of life, could not be taken, De 24:6,10,11. Compare Job 22:6 24:3,7. Idolaters sometimes disregarded these prohibitions, Am 2:6-8. See LOANS. Pledges are necessary from the vicious, who cannot be trusted, Pr 20:16.

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Pledge. Pledge
See LOAN.

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PLEDGE. → General scriptures concerning Ge 38:17-20 → A creditor must not enter the house of a debtor to take De 24:10-13 → See PAWN → See SURETY (guarantee)

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pledge. Pledge, n. a pawn; v.t. to pawn, to invite to drink

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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. √28. Cf. Prebend, Replevin.]] 1. 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. 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. 3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession.
4. 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. 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. 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.