promesse

Forms

promesse f (plural promesses)^[1] Old French also pramesse and premesse.^[2] Anglo-Norman had many spellings, among them promise and promisse.^[3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin prōmissa (“a promising”) (late 5th century), the plural of the noun prōmissum (“promise”) taken as a feminine singular; the noun is the past participle of prōmittō (“to send forth; to promise”) used as a noun.^[4][2][5] It served as the action noun of promettre.^[2] Wiktionary instead treats the word as inherited through Old French.^[1]

Cognate with Occitan promessa, Spanish promesa and Italian promessa.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1150 in the Conte de Floire et Blancheflor, for the act of promising.^[4][2] The GLLF and the Grand Robert date it to about 1131, in the Couronnement de Louis.^[7][8]

Semantic evolution

By metonymy the word came to mean the commitment made, and in the plural the words of a promise.^[2] It took a legal sense, an undertaking to enter into an obligation (about 1283, Beaumanoir),^[2][7] and a religious one, as in les enfants de la promesse “the chosen” (1553).^[2][7] Promesse de mariage is recorded in Molière (1668).^[7] In 1607 Malherbe used it for the hope or assurance that a thing or event seems to give.^[4][2] It displaced the older promission.^[2]

The promise of the Scouts, their pledge, dates from the early 20th century.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1131 – In the Couronnement de Louis.^[7]
• c. 1150 – In Floire et Blancheflor.^[4]
• c. 1283 – Beaumanoir uses it as a legal undertaking.^[7]
• 1553 – Les enfants de la promesse in the Bible of Gérard.^[7]
• 1607 – Malherbe uses it of what things seem to promise.^[4]
• 1668 – Promesse de mariage in Molière.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A promise, an undertaking to do something: tenir sa promesse, manquer à sa promesse.^[9][1]
2. (law) An undertaking to enter into a contract: promesse de vente.^[9][7]
3. Promesse de mariage: a promise to marry.^[6][7]
4. (figurative) A sign of future success or good: un jeune talent plein de promesses.^[9][4]

Usage notes

Promesse est vent “a promise is wind” is an old saying found in Machaut.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
4. ^ a b c d e f Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 442a
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert