promissum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [proːˈmɪs.sũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [proˈmis.sum]^[1]

Forms

prōmissum n (genitive prōmissī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of prōmissus, the participle of prōmittō “to send forth, promise”, used as a noun.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, in the Amphitruo, has someone begged to keep a promise, and in the Pseudolus “be sure to remember your promise”.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a promise or assurance, and sometimes the thing promised, as Terence's time to fulfil promises.^[2] Cicero uses prōmissum facere and prōmissa servāre of keeping promises, Virgil prōmissīs manēre, and Catullus prōmissa dare.^[4][5] It was also a prediction given as certain, as Cicero's promises of the Chaldeans, and an assertion given as true, as Pliny's absurd claim of Democritus.^[2]

In medieval Latin it appears in charters.^[3] English promise is recorded around 1400, through Old French promesse.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a promise.^[2][3]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of things promised.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the Chaldeans' predictions.^[2][3]
• c. 1400 – English promise is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A promise, assurance; the thing promised.^[2][5]
2. A prediction given as certain; an assertion given as true.^[2]

Related words

• prōmittō
• English promise

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com