promise

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable) an oath or affirmation; a vow.
2. (countable) A transaction between two persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the second person or devotes something valuable now and here to his use.
3. (uncountable) Reason to expect improvement or success; potential.
4. (countable) A placeholder object representing the eventual result of an asynchronous operation.
5. (countable, obsolete) bestowal or fulfillment of what is promised

Verb

1. (ambitransitive, ditransitive) To commit to (some action or outcome), or to assure (a person) of such commitment; to make an oath or vow.
2. (ambitransitive) To give grounds for expectation, especially of something good.

Synonyms

pledge

vow

agreement

oath

commitment

assurance

contract

guarantee

assure

give one’s word

accept

🉑

covenant

engagement

warrant

friendship

agree

word

swear

appointment

affirmation

swearer

undertake

predict

plight

assent

foretell

forebode

anticipate

pact

prognosticate

make a promise

call

prospect

hope

obligation

engage

bond

ensure

prognostication

augur

resolution

prediction

order

outlook

resolve

arrangement

message

compact

foreshow

command

Translations

promesse

promettre

promettere

prometer

promessa

versprechen

Versprechen

promesa

prometer

promessa

beloven

belofte

zusagen

🉑

υπόσχεση

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɹɒmɪs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: promis

Cognate with Old English: ġehātan

In summary

From Middle English promis, promisse, borrowed from Old French promesse, from Medieval Latin prōmissa, Latin prōmissum (“a promise”), feminine and neuter past participles of prōmittō (“I send forth, I say beforehand, I promise”), from pro (“forth”) + mittere (“to send”); see mission. Compare admit, commit, permit, etc. Displaced native ġehātan (“to promise”) and ġehāt (“a promise”).