PROMISE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English promis, from Latin promissum, from neuter of promissus, past participle of promittere to send forth, ~, from pro- forth + mittere to send Date: 15th century 1. a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified, a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act, reason to expect something , something that is ~d, II. verb (~d; promising) Date: 15th century transitive verb to pledge to do, bring about, or provide , warrant , assure , betroth , to suggest beforehand ; give ~ of , intransitive verb to make a ~, to give ground for expectation ; be imminent, ~e noun promisor also ~r noun