promise
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English promis (“promis, promisse”), from Old French promesse, from Medieval Latin promissa, Latin promissum (“a promise”), feminine and neuter of Latin promissus, past participle of promittere (“to send or put forth, let go forward, say beforehand, promise”), from pro (“forth”) + mittere (“to send”); see mission. Compare admit, commit, permit, etc. Displaced native Middle English beheste, bihest (“promise, behest”) (from Old English behǣs (“promise, vow”)), Middle English hight (“promise”) (from Old English hēht, past tense of Old English hātan (“to promise”)), Middle English hat, haut (“promise, vow”) (from Old English ġehāt (“promise, vow”)), Middle English quidde, quid (“saying, promise”). Compare Middle English forhaten, forhauten (“to promise”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
promise (plural promises)
- An oath or affirmation; a vow.
- If I make a promise, I always stick to it.
- He broke his promise.
- A transaction between two persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the second person or devotes something valuable now and here to his use.
- 1668 July 3ʳᵈ, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), pages 547–548
- He purſued Andrew Houſtoun upon his promiſe, to give him the like Sallary for the next year, and in abſence obtained him to be holden as confeſt and Decerned.
- 1668 July 3ʳᵈ, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), pages 547–548
[edit] Translations
vow
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transaction
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[edit] Verb
promise (third-person singular simple present promises, present participle promising, simple past and past participle promised)
- to commit to something or action; to make an oath; make a vow.
- If you promise not to tell anyone, I will let you have this cake for free.
- She promised me it was her first time.
- He promised to never return to this town again.
- She promised me a big kiss if I pick her up for the airport.
- I can't promise success, but I'll do the best I can.
[edit] Usage notes
- This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs
[edit] Translations
to commit to something or action
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[edit] See also
[edit] Statistics
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Most common English words before 1923: sake · justice · offer · #909: promise · obliged · ourselves · pale
[edit] External links
- promise in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- promise in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] French
[edit] Verb
promise f.
- feminine past participle of promettre
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Italian
[edit] Verb
promise
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Romanian
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: [proˈmise]
[edit] Adjective
promise
[edit] Verb
promise
- third-person singular simple perfect form of promite.
