promitto Latin · revision 6425

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la mittō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [proːˈmɪt.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [proˈmit.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prōmittō''' (present infinitive prōmittere, perfect active prōmīsī, supine prōmissum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[prō-|t=forth]] and [[mittō]] “to send”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of promising and of accepting a dinner invitation.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to send forth, let loose, as in Lucretius, to let the hair or beard grow long, and to prolong.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(OLD 2012) ''Ad cēnam prōmittere'' was to accept a dinner invitation.^(OLD 2012) In law it meant to undertake formally, and it also meant to predict as certain, vouch for, and of things to give promise of.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says [[polliceor]] is to promise freely as a courtesy, ''prōmittere'' as an engagement.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to promise, predict.^(Stelten 1995) It survives in French ''promettre'', Italian ''promettere'' and Spanish ''prometer''.^(Wiktionary) [[en|promise]] came about 1400 through Old French ''promesse'', from its participle ''prōmissum''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of promising.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of sending forth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of vows and legal guarantees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''promise'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To send forth; to let grow long.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|promise]], guarantee; to vow.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''sibi prōmittere'', to count on.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''ad cēnam prōmittere'', to accept an invitation to dinner.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To predict; to vouch for.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To give promise of.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[apprōmittō]]

+ * [[comprōmittō]]

+ * [[exprōmittō]]

+ * [[prōmissiō]]

+ * [[promissiuus]]

+ * [[prōmissor]]

+ * [[prōmissum]]

+ * [[prōmissus]]

+ * [[reprōmittō]]

+ * [[fidēpromittō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mittō]]

+ * [[polliceor]]

+ * [[en|promise]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}