pact
pronunciation
How to pronounce pact in British English:
UK [pækt]
How to pronounce pact in American English:
US [pækt]
-
- Noun:
- a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
Word Origin
- pact
- pact: see compact
- pact (n.)
- early 15c., from Old French pacte "agreement, treaty, compact" (14c.), from Latin pactum "agreement, contract, covenant," noun use of neuter past participle of pacisci "to covenant, to agree, make a treaty," from PIE root *pag- "fix, join together, unite, make firm" (cognates: Sanskrit pasa- "cord, rope," Avestan pas- "to fetter," Greek pegnynai "to fix, make firm, fast or solid," Latin pangere "to fix, to fasten," Slavonic paž "wooden partition," Old English fegan "to join," fon "to catch seize").
Example
- 1. Officials say the new pact ties in more tribes .
- 2. Will the pact make much practical difference ?
- 3. The pact resulted in neither growth nor stability .
- 4. The pact can enter force with the support of 12 of the 17 countries that use the euro .
- 5. The hero is a vampire who unites his allies against his enemies in a pact of blood .