n.
Pronunciation: ' prä-m ə s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English promis, from Latin promissum, from neuter of promissus, past participle of promittere to send forth, promise, from pro- forth + mittere to send
Date: 15th century
1 a : a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified b : 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
2 : reason to expect something <little promise of relief> especially : ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence <shows considerable promise >
3 : something that is promised