Meaning

(uncountable) The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge..

Definitions by Sense

1. (uncountable) The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.
2. An instance of pawning something.
3. (archaic) An item given as security on a loan, or as a pledge.
4. (rare) A pawnshop; pawnbroker.
5. (transitive) To pledge; to stake or wager.
6. (transitive) To give as security on a loan of money; especially, to deposit (something) at a pawn shop.
7. (chess) 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.
8. (idiomatic) A person being manipulated by another, being used to some end.

Example Sentences

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].

A certain, and probably an appreciable, proportion of his so-called money at call and short notice would consist of fortnightly advances made to members of the Stock Exchange against pawned stocks and shares.

But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it, babe.

Word Forms

• pawns
• pawning
• pawned

Synonyms for pawn

Related Words

When Should You Use Pawn?

Use pawn when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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