Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BOND, n. [Sax. bond. See Band and Bind.]

1. Any thing that binds, as a cord, a chain, a rope; a band.
2. Ligament; that which holds things together.
3. Union; connection; a binding. Let walls be so constructed as to make a good bond. – Mortimer.
4. In the plural, chains; imprisonment; captivity. He hath done nothing worthy of death or of bonds. – Acts.
5. Cause of union; cement which unites; link of connection; as, the bonds of affection. Charity is the bond of perfectness. – Col iii.
6. An obligation imposing a moral duty, as by a vow, or promise, by law or other means.
7. In law, an obligation or deed by which a person binds himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, to pay a certain sum, on or before a future day appointed. This is a single bond. But usually a condition is added, that if the obligor shall do a certain act, or pay a certain sum of money, on or before a time specified, the obligation shall be void; otherwise it shall remain in full force. If the condition is not performed, the bond becomes forfeited, and the obligor and his heirs are liable to the payment of the whole sum. – Blackstone.