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promitto

Etymology and origin of the Latin word promitto

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (mittō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [proːˈmɪt.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [proˈmit.to][1]

Forms

prōmittō (present infinitive prōmittere, perfect active prōmīsī, supine prōmissum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from prō- (“forth”) and mittō “to send”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of promising and of accepting a dinner invitation.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to send forth, let loose, as in Lucretius, to let the hair or beard grow long, and to prolong.[2] Then it meant to undertake to give or do, promise, guarantee, as in Plautus, to promise a daughter in marriage, to vow to the gods, and sibi prōmittere to count on something.[2] Ad cēnam prōmittere was to accept a dinner invitation.[2] In law it meant to undertake formally, and it also meant to predict as certain, vouch for, and of things to give promise of.[2] Döderlein says polliceor is to promise freely as a courtesy, prōmittere as an engagement.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to promise, predict.[6] It survives in French promettre, Italian promettere and Spanish prometer.[1] English promise came about 1400 through Old French promesse, from its participle prōmissum.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of promising.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of sending forth.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of vows and legal guarantees.[2][4]
  • c. 1400 – English promise is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To send forth; to let grow long.[2]
  2. To promise, guarantee; to vow.[2]
  3. sibi prōmittere, to count on.[2]
  4. ad cēnam prōmittere, to accept an invitation to dinner.[2]
  5. To predict; to vouch for.[2]
  6. To give promise of.[2]

Word family

  • apprōmittō
  • comprōmittō
  • exprōmittō
  • prōmissiō
  • promissiuus
  • prōmissor
  • prōmissum
  • prōmissus
  • reprōmittō
  • fidēpromittō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Promitto.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/promitto. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·