promise definition | Dictionary.com

prom⋅ise

[prom-is]

noun, verb, -ised, -is⋅ing.

–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.

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To promise

prom·ise (prŏm'ĭs)

1. A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow.
2. 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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Promise

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.

Promise

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.

Promise

Prom"ise\, v. i. 1. To give assurance by a promise, or binding declaration.

2. To afford hopes or expectation; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil.

Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion? I fear it, I promise you. --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : promise

Spanish: prometer,

German: versprechen,

Japanese: 約束する

More Translations »

promise (n.)

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.

Main Entry: prom·ise
Function: noun
: a declaration or manifestation esp. in a contract of an intention to act or refrain from acting in a specified way that gives the party to whom it is made a right to expect its fulfillment

aleatory promise
: a promise (as to compensate an insured individual for future loss) whose fulfillment is dependent on a fortuitous or uncertain event

collateral promise
: a promise usually to pay the debt of another that is ancillary to an original promise, is not made for the benefit of the party making it, and must be in writing to be enforceable

false promise
: a promise that is made with no intention of carrying it out and esp. that is made with intent to deceive or defraud

gratuitous promise
: a promise that is made without consideration and is usually unenforceable called also naked promise —compare NUDUM PACTUM
NOTE: A gratuitous promise may be enforceable under promissory estoppel.

illusory promise
: a purported promise that does not actually bind the party making it to a particular performance illusory promise depending solely on the will of the supposed promisor>

implied promise
: a promise that is considered to exist despite the lack of an agreement or express terms to that effect and the breach of which may be recognized as a cause of action implied promise that he would not be terminated at will> —see also PROMISE IMPLIED IN FACT and, PROMISE IMPLIED IN LAW in this entry

naked promise
: GRATUITOUS PROMISE in this entry

original promise
: a promise (as in a suretyship) usually to pay the debt of another that is made primarily for the benefit of the party making it and need not be in writing to be enforceable —compare COLLATERAL PROMISE in this entry, MAIN PURPOSE RULE

promise implied in fact
: an implied promise that exists by inference from specific facts, circumstances, or acts of the parties

promise implied in law
: an implied promise that exists on the basis of a legally enforceable duty and not on the basis of words or conduct which are promissory in form or support an inference of a promise promise implied in law that one will be compensated for services rendered and accepted>

promise

see lick and a promise.

Search another word or see promise on Thesaurus | Reference

promise
Stores lowering prices every minute Check prices before you buy
www.pricewatch.com

Promise
Bargain Prices. Smart Deals. Save on Promise!

Shopzilla.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us