promises
Use Promises in a sentence
ɪs noun
1.
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.
00:10
Promises
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
verb (used without object)
12.
to afford ground for expectation (often followed by well or fair ): His forthcoming novel promises well.
13.
to make a promise.
Origin:
1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English promis(se) < Medieval Latin prōmissa, for Latin prōmissum, noun use of neuter past participle of prōmittere to promise, literally, to send forth, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + mittere to send; (v.) late Middle English promisen, derivative of the noun
1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English promis(se) < Medieval Latin prōmissa, for Latin prōmissum, noun use of neuter past participle of prōmittere to promise, literally, to send forth, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + mittere to send; (v.) late Middle English promisen, derivative of the noun
Related forms
prom·is·a·ble, adjective
prom·ise·ful, adjective
prom·is·er, noun
out·prom·ise, verb (used with object), out·prom·ised, out·prom·is·ing.
o·ver·prom·ise, verb (used with object), o·ver·prom·ised, o·ver·prom·is·ing.
pre·prom·ise, noun, verb (used with object), pre·prom·ised, pre·prom·is·ing.
qua·si-prom·ised, adjective
re·prom·ise, verb, re·prom·ised, re·prom·is·ing.
un·prom·ised, adjective
Synonyms
2. word, pledge. 6. pledge, covenant, agree.
2. word, pledge. 6. pledge, covenant, agree.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To Promises
Collins
World English Dictionary
promise (ˈprɒmɪs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (often foll by to; | |
| 1. | to give an assurance of (something to someone); undertake (to do something) in the future: I promise that I will come |
| 2. | (tr) to undertake to give (something to someone): he promised me a car for my birthday |
| 3. | ( |
| 4. | (usually passive) to engage to be married; betroth: I'm promised to Bill |
| 5. | (tr) to assure (someone) of the authenticity or inevitability of something (often in the parenthetic phrase I promise you, used to emphasize a statement): there'll be trouble, I promise you |
| —n | |
| 6. | an undertaking or assurance given by one person to another agreeing or guaranteeing to do or give something, or not to do or give something, in the future |
| 7. | indication of forthcoming excellence or goodness: a writer showing considerable promise |
| 8. | the thing of which an assurance is given |
| [C14: from Latin prōmissum a promise, from prōmittere to send forth] | |
| 'promiser | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
promise
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
When eleven of them had made their promises, suddenly the thirteenth came in.
More substantially, donors may make aid conditional on meeting the promises made.
Amid many promises about futuristic automobiles, an unlikely one seems to be coming true: hydrogen fuel-cell cars.
Western promises of economic aid and investment have remained largely that-promises.
Nearby Words
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