pledge vs wish

pledge

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

  • To deposit something as a security; to pawn. 

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

noun
  • A solemn promise to do something. 

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

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

  • 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. 

wish

verb
  • To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something). 

  • To hope (for a particular outcome), even if that outcome is unlikely to occur or cannot occur. 

  • To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of. 

  • I wish I could go back in time and teach myself what I know now. 

  • To desire; to want. 

  • To request or desire to do an activity. 

noun
  • The thing desired or longed for. 

  • An expression of such a desire, often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power. 

  • A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen. 

  • A water meadow. 

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