Pawn
Definitions
- The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.
- The most numerous chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess, each side starts with eight; moves are only forward, and attacks are only diagonally or en passant.
- A gallery.
- An instance of pawning something.
- A person being manipulated by another, being used to some end.
- An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge.
- A pawnshop; pawnbroker.
Equivalents
35 more languages
Afrikaanspion
Azərbaycan dilipiyada
Българскизалог
Catalàempenyorar
Esperantolombardejo
Gàidhligpàn
Latviešubandinieks
Românăamaneta
Tiếng Việttốt
Examples
“All our jewellery was in pawn by this stage⟳.”
“Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown.”
“As therefore the morning devv, is a pavvne of the evenings fatneſſe, ſo, O Lord, let⟳ this daies comfort be the earneſt of to morrowes, […]”
“My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thy enemies.”
“Brokers, takers of pawns, biting userers, I will not admit⟳; yet […] I will tolerate some kind of usery.”
“As for mortgaging or pawning,[…]men will not take⟳ pawns without use⟳ [i.e. interest⟳].”
“The pawn may move⟳ forward⟳ to the square immediately in front of it on the same file⟳, provided that this square is unoccupied […] Consequently, in the initial position the white pieces and pawns are placed on the first and second ranks; the black pieces and pawns on the eighth and seventh ranks.”
“Near-synonym: chess piece”
“Though a pawn of the gods, her departure is the precipitating cause of the Trojan War.”
“He delivered a broadside to the RMT leadership, saying: "This response to a significantly enhanced offer⟳ exposes their true priority - using the British public and NR workers as pawns in a fight⟳ with the Government.”
“A tray filled with pawns, prepared with the usual ingredients, as lime cuttie (a bitter gum), betel-nut, tobacco, spices, &c.”
“To our English taste⟳, pawn is very offensive; but the natives of India relish it, and regard it as a necessity. It is much eaten by Mohammedans of both sexes, and by the natives of Bengal.”
CEFR level
C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
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