#WordWednesday

The phrase "to plight one's troth" has in recent times usually meant a vow to marry, but it actually means any promise or pledge. Troth and truth were once the same word, meaning faithfulness, loyalty and honesty.

The first known use of the phrase was by Chaucer in the 13th century. In his "The Pardoner's Tale," three friends have plighted their troths "to live and die for one another like brethren born..." Things went awry, as things sometimes do, but as with plighting any troth, at the time of utterance the pledge binds.