Promise Definition

prŏmĭs

promised, promises, promising

noun

promises

An oral or written agreement to do or not to do something.

Webster's New World

Something promised.

Webster's New World

Indication of something favorable to come; expectation.

A promise of spring in the air.

American Heritage

Indication, as of a successful prospect or future; basis for expectation.

Webster's New World

An avowal to do something or to refrain from doing something, conveyed in such a way as to assure another that it will be done, and that can be considered binding.

Webster's New World Law

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

verb

promised, promises, promising

To make a promise.

Webster's New World

To engage or pledge.

To promise to go.

Webster's New World

To make a promise of (something) to somebody.

Webster's New World

To give a basis for expecting.

Webster's New World

To give a basis for expectation.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
break faith
deny
deceive
renege
break
discourage

Other Word Forms of Promise

Noun

Singular:

promise

Plural:

promises

Origin of Promise

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 behÇ£s (“promise, vow")), Middle English hight (“promise") (from Old English hÄ“ht, past tense of Old English hātan (“to promise")), Middle English hat, haut (“promise, vow") (from Old English Ä¡ehāt (“promise, vow")), Middle English quidde, quid (“saying, promise"). Compare Middle English forhaten, forhauten (“to promise").

From Wiktionary
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 pro–¹ mittere to send

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition