hostage – First referred to the state of someone handed over as a pledge or security (for the fulfillment of an undertaking). More…
policy – Meaning “insurance document,” it is from a French word meaning “certificate, contract,” from an earlier Latin word meaning “a receipt or security for money paid.” More…
impignorate, pignorate – To impignorate or pignorate means to put up as security or to pawn. More…
wage, wager – Wage once meant “pledge, security” and wager was defined as “solemn pledge” or “undertaking,” from French wagier, “to pledge.” More…