Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PLUNGE, n.

1. The act of thrusting into water or any penetrable substance.
2. Difficulty; strait; distress; a state of being surrounded or overwhelmed with difficulties. People when put to a plunge, cry out to heaven for help. – L'Estrange. And will thou not reach out a friendly arm, / To raise me from amidst this plunge of sorrow! – Addison. [In this sense, the word is now little used.]