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“pawn”
pawn
1. In the game of chess, one of eight men of one color and of the lowest value, usually moved one square at a time vertically and capturing diagonally.
2. Someone who is used or manipulated to further another person's purposes.
3. Borrowing and leaving an article as security for repayment of a loan.
A "lowly chess piece" is from about 1369, from Anglo-French poun, Old French peon, and earlier pehon; which came from Middle Latin pedonem, "foot soldier" from Late Latin pedonem, "one going on foot", which in turn came from Latin pes, "foot". The application of the chess sense existed in Old French by the 13th century.
3. Borrowing and leaving an article as security for repayment of a loan.
This entry is located in the following unit:
ped-, pedi-, -pedal, -ped, -pede, -pedia
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pawn, pawn
pawn (PAWN) (noun)
1. One of the eight small pieces that have the least value in the game of chess: Henry's opponent in the game of chess took more than one pawn in the last move.
2. A person or group that does not have much power and who is controlled by a more powerful person or group: Kimberly became a pawn in the political power struggle.
2. A person or group that does not have much power and who is controlled by a more powerful person or group: Kimberly became a pawn in the political power struggle.
pawn (PAWN) (verb)
To give something to an individual whose occupation is to accept personal property as security in exchange for the loan of money: Lorna's friend was forced to pawn his coin set to pay for his rent and some food.
Matt felt like a pawn of misfortune when he had to go to leave his chess set as a deposit with the pawnbroker, including the pewter pawn which was engraved with the date when he won the championship.
This entry is located in the following unit:
Confusing Words Clarified: Group P; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
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