The word "plight" refers to a difficult or unfortunate situation that someone is in, often due to circumstances beyond their control. It can also refer to the condition or state of being of someone who is in such a situation. The term has its roots in Old English and originally referred to the fate or destiny of something or someone. Today, it is commonly used to describe the difficult circumstances that people find themselves in due to various reasons such as poverty, war, natural disasters, or other calamities.