I. ˈprä-məs 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
II. verb
( prom·ised ; prom·is·ing )
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : to pledge to do, bring about, or provide
promise aid
2. archaic : warrant , assure
3. chiefly dialect : betroth
4. : to suggest beforehand : give promise of
dark clouds promise rain
intransitive verb
1. : to make a promise
2. : to give ground for expectation : be imminent
• prom·is·ee ˌprä-mə-ˈsē noun
• prom·i·sor -ˈsȯr also prom·is·er ˈprä-mə-sər noun