— promisable , adj. — promiseful , adj. — promiser , n.
/prom"is/ , n. , v. , promised, promising .
n.
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.
v.t.
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!
v.i.
12. to afford ground for expectation (often fol. by well or fair ): His forthcoming novel promises well.
13. to make a promise.
[ 1375-1425; (n.) late ME promis ( se ) promissa, for L promissum, n. use of neut. ptp. of promittere to promise, lit., to send forth, equiv. to pro- PRO- 1 + mittere to send; (v.) late ME promisen, deriv. of the n. ]
Syn. 2. word, pledge. 6. pledge, covenant, agree.