bond vs pledge

bond

noun
  • A bail bond. 

  • An emotional link, connection or union; that which holds two or more people together, as in a friendship; a tie. 

  • A link or force between neighbouring atoms in a molecule. 

  • Evidence of a long-term debt, by which the bond issuer (the borrower) is obliged to pay interest when due, and repay the principal at maturity, as specified on the face of the bond certificate. The rights of the holder are specified in the bond indenture, which contains the legal terms and conditions under which the bond was issued. Bonds are available in two forms: registered bonds, and bearer bonds. 

  • A physical connection which binds, a band. 

  • A peasant; churl. 

  • A binding agreement, a covenant. 

  • Moral or political duty or obligation. 

  • A partial payment made to show a provider that the customer is sincere about buying a product or a service. If the product or service is not purchased the customer then forfeits the bond. 

  • In building, a specific pattern of bricklaying, based on overlapping rows or layers to give strength. 

  • A documentary obligation to pay a sum or to perform a contract; a debenture. 

  • A vassal; serf; one held in bondage to a superior. 

  • A heavy copper wire or rod connecting adjacent rails of an electric railway track when used as a part of the electric circuit. 

  • Any constraining or cementing force or material. 

  • A mortgage. 

adj
  • Subject to the tenure called bondage. 

  • In a state of servitude or slavedom; not free. 

  • Servile; slavish; pertaining to or befitting a slave. 

verb
  • To cause to adhere (one material with another). 

  • To guarantee or secure a financial risk. 

  • To lay bricks in a specific pattern. 

  • To bail out by means of a bail bond. 

  • To make a reliable electrical connection between two conductors (or any pieces of metal that may potentially become conductors). 

  • To form a friendship or emotional connection. 

  • To connect, secure or tie with a bond; to bind. 

  • To put in a bonded warehouse; to secure (goods) until the associated duties are paid. 

  • To form a chemical compound with. 

pledge

noun
  • A bailment of personal property to secure payment of a debt without transfer of title. 

  • A solemn promise to do something. 

  • The personal property so pledged, to be kept until the debt is paid. 

  • A person who has taken a pledge of allegiance to a college fraternity, but is not yet formally approved. 

  • A drinking toast. 

  • An asset or person temporarily handed over to guarantee the fulfilment of something promised, under threat of permanent loss of the thing handed over; surety, security, hostage. 

  • A promise to abstain from drinking alcohol. 

verb
  • To deposit something as a security; to pawn. 

  • To make a solemn promise (to do something). 

  • To give assurance of friendship by the act of drinking; to drink to one's health. 

How often have the words bond and pledge occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )