duress delirium pledge grace malice

duress

du·ress /djʊˈres $ dʊ-/ noun [uncountable]

illegal or unfair threats

under duress

• The confession was obtained under duress.

delirium

de·lir·i·um /dɪˈlɪriəm/ noun

1. [uncountable] a state in which someone is delirious, especially because they are very ill:
   1. Before she died she had fits of delirium
2. [singular, uncountable] extreme excitement

pledge

pledge1 /pledʒ/ noun [countable]

1. formal a serious promise or agreement, especially one made publicly or officially
   • pledge of
     • a pledge of support for the plan
   • pledge to do something
     • the government’s pledge to make no deals with terrorists
   • make/take/give a pledge
     • Parents make a pledge to take their children to rehearsals
   • keep/fulfil/honour a pledge
     • Eisenhower fulfilled his election pledge to end the war in Korea
2. a promise to give money to an organization
   1. Donors have made pledges totaling nearly $4 million.
   2. pledge of
      1. a pledge of $200 to the public TV station.
3. something valuable that you leave with someone else as proof that you will do what you have agreed to do
4. someone who has promised to become a member of a fraternity or sorority at an American university.

grace

grace1 /ɡreɪs/ noun

1. [uncountable] a smooth way of moving that looks natural, relaxed, and attractive
   1. Lena moved with the grace of a dancer.
2. bahavior
   1. [uncountable] polite and pleasant behavior
      1. The hotel maintains traditional standards of elegance, style, and grace.
      2. have the grace to do something
         1. He didn’t even have the grace to apologize (=he was not polite enough to apologize)
   2. graces [plural] the skills needed to behave in a way that is considered polite and socially acceptable
      1. Max definitely lack social graces
3. [uncountable] more time that is allowed to someone to finish a piece of work, pay a debt etc
   1. a day’s/week’s etc grace
      1. I got a few days’ grace to finish my essay.
4. with (a) good/bad grace in a willing and pleasant way, or an unwilling and angry way
   1. Kevin smiled and accepted his defeat with good grace.
   2. With typical bad grace, they refused to come to the party.
5. [uncountable] God’s kindness that is shown to people
   1. We are saved by God’s grace
6. there but for the grace of God (go I) used to say that you feel lucky not to be in the same bad situation as someone else
7. [uncountable] a prayer thanking God, said before a meal
   1. My father said grace.
8. [uncountable] the state of someone’s soul when it is free from evil, according to Christian belief
   1. He died in a state of grace (=when God has forgiven you for the wrong things you have done).
9. Your/His etc Grace used as a title when talking to or about a duke, duchess, or archbishop
10. the Graces three beautiful Greek goddesses who often appear in art.

malice

mal·ice /ˈmæləs, ˈmælɪs/ noun [uncountable]

1. the desire to harm someone because you hate them
   1. with malice
      1. His eyes gleamed with malice
   2. sheer/pure malice
      1. She did it out of sheer malice
      2. James bore her no malice (=did not feel any malice towards her)
2. with malice aforethought law with the deliberate intention of doing something that is against the law

Reference

• Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English