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Definition of promiseful - 3 dictionary results

prom⋅ise

  [prom-is] noun, verb, -ised, -is⋅ing.
Use promiseful in a Sentence
–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.
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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

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>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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