promise English · revision 3832

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la mittō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈprɒm.ɪs/, US /ˈprɑː.mɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|promis]] or promisse,^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|la|prōmissum|t=a promise]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the noun use of the neuter past participle of [[m|la|prōmittere|t=to send forth, foretell, promise]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|prō-|t=before, forth]] and [[m|la|mittere|t=to put, send]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The form promisse came through Old French promesse.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[mission]], [[permit]] and [[compromise]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A solemn pledge or vow: about 1400 in Etymonline, Barnhart and the OED, in a version of ''Mandeville's Travels''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The verb is from probably before 1400.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In religious use, one of God's assurances of future good, it is from 1502,^(OED 1989) and the ''land of promise'' from 1535;^(OED 1989) the ''promised land'', the land of Canaan promised to Abraham, is from the 1530s, earlier ''lond of promission'' in the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) The thing promised is from 1526.^(OED 1989) Grounds for expecting future excellence is from the 1530s,^(Etymonline) and the verb's “to give reason to expect” from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The ''bow of promise'', the rainbow, is from 1827.^(OED 1989) Middle English also had the verb promit, from Latin.^(Etymonline) In Yorkshire dialect ''to promise'' was often used ironically of punishment, “I'll give it you, I promise”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – a pledge.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1502 – a divine promise.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530s – ''promised land''; future excellence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – to give reason to expect.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1827 – ''bow of promise''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A declaration that one will or will not do something; a [[vow]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something promised.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Reason to expect something good; signs of future success: ''shows promise''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To commit oneself by a promise to do or give.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To give grounds for expecting: ''clouds promising rain''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[promiser]]

+ * [[promisee]]

+ * [[promisable]]

+ * [[promiseful]]

+ * [[outpromise]]

+ * [[overpromise]]

+ * [[prepromise]]

+ * [[repromise]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[promissory]]

+ * [[promising]]

+ * [[promisor]]

+ * [[compromise]]

+ * [[mission]]

+ * [[permit]]

+ * [[emit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}