plight
plight — noun
1. a very difficult condition that brings trouble or sadness and is not easy to get
a very difficult condition that brings trouble or sadness and is not easy to get out of
Many fishing families are in a bad plight after the harbor closure.
in a plight after + event
The flood left the mountain village in a worse plight than before.
Doctors warned about the plight of children sleeping in cars.
After the factory shut, the town's plight filled the evening news.
Mr. Lee's illness added to the family's financial plight that winter.
- predicament
often refers to one difficult position that someone must find a way out of
- hardship
stresses suffering and lack over a period of time
- trouble
is much broader and can describe problems of any size
- crisis
suggests a dangerous turning point that needs quick action
文法句型
in a plight
the plight of + people/group
用法筆記
Often used for serious social or personal problems, especially in the pattern the plight of + group. Distinguish from a general situation or problem: plight usually sounds more severe and more sad.
常見錯誤
plight — verb
1. to make a formal promise that you will marry someone
to make a formal promise that you will marry someone
In the old story, Elinor was plighted to a young sea captain.
often passive: be plighted to + person
Before the war, Clara plighted herself to the farmer next door.
plight yourself to + person
The prince was already plighted to Sofia, so the queen refused the match.
At seventeen, Agnes was plighted to a man she barely knew.
After one summer together, Daniel plighted himself to Mira.
- break off
when used about an engagement, it means ending the plan to marry
文法句型
be plighted to + person
plight yourself to + person
用法筆記
Mostly found in old-fashioned or literary writing. Often appears in passive forms such as be plighted to someone, or with a reflexive object in plight yourself to someone.