Etymologically
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promissum

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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]

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