a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one: unkept political promises.
2.
an express assurance on which expectation is to be based: promises that an enemy will not win.
3.
something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected.
4.
indication of future excellence or achievement: a writer who shows promise.
5.
something that is promised.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to engage or undertake by promise (usually used with an infinitive or a clause as object): She promised to go tomorrow.
7.
to make a promise of (some specified act, gift, etc.): to promise help.
8.
to make a promise of something to (a specified person): Promise me that you will come.
9.
to afford ground for expecting: The sky promised a storm.
10.
to engage to join in marriage.
11.
to assure (used in emphatic declarations): I won't go there again, I promise you that!
–verb (used without object)
12.
to afford ground for expectation (often fol. by well or fair): His forthcoming novel promises well.
13.
to make a promise.
[Origin: 1375–1425; (n.) late ME promis(se) < ML prōmissa, for L prōmissum, n. use of neut. ptp. of prōmittere to promise, lit., to send forth, equiv. to prō-pro-1+ mittere to send; (v.) late ME promisen, deriv. of the n.]
—Related forms
prom·is·a·ble, adjective
prom·ise·ful, adjective
prom·is·er, noun
—Synonyms 2. word, pledge. 6. pledge, covenant, agree.
A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow.
Something promised.
Indication of something favorable to come; expectation: a promise of spring in the air.
Indication of future excellence or success: a player of great promise.
v.
prom·ised, prom·is·ing, prom·is·es
v.
tr.
To commit oneself by a promise to do or give; pledge: left but promised to return.
To afford a basis for expecting: thunderclouds that promise rain.
v.
intr.
To make a declaration assuring that something will or will not be done.
To afford a basis for expectation: an enterprise that promises well.
[Middle English promis, from Old French promise, from Medieval Latin prōmissa, alteration of Latin prōmissum, from neuter past participle of prōmittere, to send forth, promise : prō-, forth; see pro-1 + mittere, to send.]
prom'is·er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to declare solemnly that one will follow a particular course of action: promises to write soon; pledged to uphold the law; swore to get revenge; vowed to fight to the finish.
c.1400, from L. promissum "a promise," noun use of neuter pp. of promittere "send forth, foretell, promise," from pro- "before" + mittere "to put, send" (see mission). Ground sense is "declaration made about the future, about some act to be done or not done." The verb is attested from c.1420. Promised land (1538) is a ref. to the land of Canaan promised to Abraham and his progeny (Heb. xi.9, etc.; Gk. ten ges tes epangelias). Promising "showing signs of future excellence" is from 1601.
to say, or give one's word (that one will, or will not, do something etc) Example: I promise (that) I won't be late; I promise not to be late; I won't be late, I promise (you)!
Arabic:
يُعْطي وَعْدا
Chinese (Simplified):
允诺
Chinese (Traditional):
允諾
Czech:
slíbit
Danish:
love
Dutch:
beloven
Estonian:
lubama
Finnish:
luvata
French:
promettre (de)
German:
versprechen
Greek:
υπόσχομαι
Hungarian:
(meg)ígér
Icelandic:
lofa (að)
Indonesian:
berjanji
Italian:
promettere
Japanese:
約束する
Korean:
약속하다
Latvian:
apsolīt; solīties
Lithuanian:
(pa)žadėti
Norwegian:
love
Polish:
przyrzekać
Portuguese (Brazil):
prometer
Portuguese (Portugal):
prometer
Romanian:
a promite
Russian:
обещать
Slovak:
sľúbiť
Slovenian:
obljubiti
Spanish:
prometer
Swedish:
lova
Turkish:
söz vermek
promise2[ˈpromis]verb
to say or give one's assurance that one will give Example: He promised me a new dress.
Arabic:
يَعِدُ بأن يُعْطي
Chinese (Simplified):
向…保证给予…（或答应…）
Chinese (Traditional):
向…保證給予…(或答應…)
Czech:
slíbit
Danish:
love
Dutch:
beloven
Estonian:
lubama
Finnish:
luvata
French:
promettre
German:
versprechen
Greek:
τάζω
Hungarian:
ígér
Icelandic:
lofa
Indonesian:
menjanjikan
Italian:
promettere
Japanese:
約束する
Korean:
…을 주겠다고 약속하다
Latvian:
solīt
Lithuanian:
(pa)žadėti
Norwegian:
gi løfte om, garantere
Polish:
obiecywać
Portuguese (Brazil):
prometer
Portuguese (Portugal):
prometer
Romanian:
a promite
Russian:
посулить
Slovak:
sľúbiť
Slovenian:
obljubiti
Spanish:
prometer
Swedish:
lova
Turkish:
vaat etmek, … sözü vermek
promise3[ˈpromis]verb
to show signs of future events or developments Example: This situation promises well for the future.
Arabic:
يُبَشِّرُ
Chinese (Simplified):
有…的可能
Chinese (Traditional):
有…的可能
Czech:
slibovat
Danish:
love
Dutch:
veelbelovend zijn
Estonian:
tõotama
Finnish:
olla lupaava
French:
promettre
German:
Hoffnung erwecken
Greek:
υπόσχομαι, παρέχω ελπίδες
Hungarian:
ígérkezik
Icelandic:
lofa
Indonesian:
menjanjikan harapan
Italian:
promettere
Japanese:
見込みのある
Korean:
유망하다
Latvian:
solīt; dot izredzes
Lithuanian:
teikti vilčių, žadėti
Norwegian:
tegne (til), love godt
Polish:
zapowiadać (się)
Portuguese (Brazil):
prometer
Portuguese (Portugal):
prometer
Romanian:
a fi promiţător
Russian:
выглядеть многообещающе
Slovak:
sľubovať
Slovenian:
obetati
Spanish:
prometer
Swedish:
lova, förebåda
Turkish:
ümit vermek, olacağa benzemek
promise1[ˈpromis]noun
something promised Example: He made a promise; I'll go with you — that's a promise!
Arabic:
وَعْد
Chinese (Simplified):
诺言，承诺的事物
Chinese (Traditional):
諾言，承諾的事物
Czech:
slib
Danish:
løfte
Dutch:
belofte
Estonian:
lubadus
Finnish:
lupaus
French:
promesse
German:
das Versprechen
Greek:
υπόσχεση
Hungarian:
ígéret
Icelandic:
loforð
Indonesian:
janji
Italian:
promessa
Japanese:
約束
Korean:
약속
Latvian:
solījums
Lithuanian:
pažadas
Norwegian:
løfte, tilsagn
Polish:
obietnica
Portuguese (Brazil):
promessa
Portuguese (Portugal):
promessa
Romanian:
promisiune
Russian:
обещание
Slovak:
sľub
Slovenian:
obljuba
Spanish:
promesa
Swedish:
löfte
Turkish:
söz, vaat
promise2[ˈpromis]noun
a sign of future success Example: She shows great promise in her work.
Promise City, IA (city, FIPS 64875) Location: 40.74694 N, 93.15091 W Population (1990): 132 (67 housing units) Area: 0.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 52583
Com"pro*mise\, n. [F. compromis, fr. L. compromissum a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter, fr. compromittere to make such a promise; com- + promittere to promise. See Promise.]1. A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the decision of arbitrators. [Obs.] --Burrill. 2. A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached by concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of extreme demands or rights, resulting in an agreement. But basely yielded upon compromise That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows. --Shak. All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter. --Burke. An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions. --Hallam. 3. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, a compromise of character or right. I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim and title to them. --Lamb.
Prom"ise\, a. [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]1. In general, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do, or to forbear to do, a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. --Gal. iii. 18. 2. (Law) An engagement by one person to another, either in words or in writing, but properly not under seal, for the performance or nonperformance of some particular thing. The word promise is used to denote the mere engagement of a person, without regard to the consideration for it, or the corresponding duty of the party to whom it is made. --Chitty. Parsons. Burrill. 3. That which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise. --Shak. My native country was full of youthful promise. --W. Irving. 4. Bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised. He . . . commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father. --Acts i. 4.
Prom"ise\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promised; p. pr. & vb. n. Promising.]1. To engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making, or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money. "To promise aid." --Shak. 2. To afford reason to expect; to cause hope or assurance of; as, the clouds promise rain. --Milton. 3. To make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow; as, the proprietors promised large tracts of land; the city promised a reward. Promised land. See Land of promise, under Land. To promise one's self. (a) To resolve; to determine; to vow. (b) To be assured; to have strong confidence. I dare promise myself you will attest the truth of all I have advanced. --Rambler.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [prom-is] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -ised, -is·ing. 
