Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “plighter” come from?

plighter (English) comes from English plight, from Middle English plight, from Old English pliht, from Proto-West Germanic plihti, from Proto-West Germanic plehan — to stand up for; to be responsible for.

plighter (English): One who or that which plights, engages, or...

Definitions

  1. One who or that which plights, engages, or...

Ancestry of “plighter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishplightA dire or unfortunate situation; A condition or...
2Middle Englishplightrisk, danger; risky promise, peril
3Old Englishplihtdanger, risk
4Proto-West Germanicplihticare, maintenance, diligence; responsibility,...
5Proto-West Germanicplehanto stand up for; to be responsible for
Every word from Proto-West Germanic plehan →