▪ I. promise, n.
(ˈprɒmɪs)
Forms: 5–6 promis, -ys, -isse, -ysse, 6 -yse, 7 -iss, 5– promise. β. 5 promess, 5–6 -es, -esse, 6–7 Sc. -eis.
[ad. L. prōmiss-um a promise, n. use of neut. pa. pple. of prōmitt-ĕre: see promit v. The β forms represent F. promesse (13th c.):—med.L. prōmissa a promise.]
1. A declaration or assurance made to another person with respect to the future, stating that one will do, or refrain from, some specified act, or that one will give or bestow some specified thing. (Usually in good sense, implying something to the advantage or pleasure of the person concerned.)
breach of promise: see breach n. 3 b.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) v. 40 No straungere cometh before him, but that he maketh him sum promys and graunt, of that the sowdan asketh. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 39 This man for trust of femynyne promysse, Wolde telle out alle. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 225 Geuyng them faire wordes, and makyng large promises. ? a 1550 Knt. of Curtesy 280 His promysse he wil not breke. 1605 Shakes. Macb. v. viii. 21 These Iugling Fiends..That keepe the word of promise to our eare, And breake it to our hope. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 631 Which Boferes after with like perfidiousnes, and breach of promise, requited on three thousand Marochians. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. ix. 158 A promise is in the nature of a verbal covenant. 1785 Paley Mor. Philos. iii. i. v, Promises are not binding, where the performance is unlawful. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot., Promise and Offer... An offerer is not bound until his offer is accepted. A promiser is bound as soon as the promise reaches the party to whom it is made. 1845 Stephen Comm. Laws Eng. (1874) II. 55 There is in strictness a distinction between a promise and a contract; for the latter involves the idea of mutuality which the former does not. 1877 Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. v. 52 Becket had broken his promise to submit to the Constitutions. |
| β c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1772 Whanne I þe mette, & sy þin heuynesse, Of comfort, sone, made I þe promesse. c 1470 Henry Wallace vi. 866 A promes maid to meit Wallace but let. Ibid. xi. 947 The tym was past by Off the promess the quhilk at he was bund. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. iv. iv. 238 Hys promesse and affyaunce made. 1530 Palsgr. 258/2 Promesse, promesse. |
2. a. In religious use: One of the Divine assurances of future good or blessing, recorded in the Scriptures as made to particular persons on various occasions, or conceived as given to mankind through Christ; spec. that made to Abraham with respect to his posterity (Gen. xii. 2, etc.).
| 1502 W. Atkynson tr. De Imitatione iii. xviii. 211 The promes of god. 1526 Tindale Heb. vi. 12 Them, which thorow fayth and pacience inheret the promyses. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 3 The threitning of God maid to them that brekis his commandementis, and his promeis made to them that keipis them. 1659 T. Allen (title) A Chain of Scripture Chronology..in VII periods, viz., From the Creation to the Flood, the Flood to the Promise, the Promise to the Law, the Law to the Temple, the Temple to the Captivity.., the Captivity to the Return, the Return to the Death of Christ. 1707 Watts Hymn, ‘Begin, my tongue’ ii, Sing the sweet promise of his grace, And the performing God. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xxxii, ‘So help me the promise’,..said Isaac,..‘as no such sounds ever crossed my lips!’ |
b. land of promise (tr. τὴν γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, Heb. xi. 9): = promised land. Also fig.
| 1535 Coverdale Heb. xi. 9 By faith was he a straunger in the londe of promes [Wycl. the loond of biheest]. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. ii. v. §8 Not..meerly a Covenant for the Land of Promise. 1851 Dixon W. Penn xv. (1872) 131 To all these exiled sects America was the land of promise. 1865 J. H. Ingraham Pillar of Fire (1872) 570 Their land of heaven is our land of promise also. |
c. bow of promise, the rainbow (in allusion to Gen. ix. 12–17).
| 1827 Sarah E. Miles Hymn, ‘Thou who didst stoop below’ iii, To see a Father's love Beam, like a bow of promise, through the cloud. 1850 S. Dobell Roman viii, Thoughts that shining through To-morrow's tears shall set in our worst cloud The bow of promise. |
3. transf. The thing promised; contextually (with claim) = the fulfilment of a promise.
| 1526 Tindale 1 John ii. 25 This is the promes that he hath promysed vs, even eternall lyfe. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iii. i. 197 Ile clayme that promise at your Graces hand. 1646 H. Lawrence Comm. Angells 168 They hope to attaine the promise of God, that is, the thing promised. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 455 He stood once more before her face, Claiming her promise. |
4. fig. a. That which affords a strong or reasonable ground of expectation of something to come, esp. of future good; a pledge, earnest, forerunner, pre-indication (of something); something that leads one confidently to expect (good) results.
to give (afford, etc.) promise: to afford expectation of something, esp. good. of great (high, etc.) promise: such as leads one to expect future excellence; very promising.
| c 1532 G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 922 A gyrle..full of swete promyse. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 14 A yong Florentine,..He hath borne himselfe beyond the promise of his age. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. iv. 23 Fragrant Herbs (the promises of Spring). 1700 ― Cymon & Iph. 329 Like a fiery meteor sunk the sun, The promise of a storm. 1748 Gray Alliance Educ. & Govt. 21 The vernal Promise of the Year. 1828 Macaulay Ess., Hallam (1887) 55 A historical novel of high merit, and of still higher promise. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Vall. i. 16 Remarking on the fine promise of fruit. 1886 E. G. White Hist. Sk. Foreign Missions Seventh-Day Adventists 281/2 They should be ready to counsel and instruct those who have newly come to the faith, and who give promise of possessing ability to work for the Master. a 1909 Mod. This scholarship is given for promise, rather than for attainment. 1919 T. S. Eliot Poems, Grishkin is nice..her friendly bust Gives promise of pneumatic bliss. 1971 Daily Tel. 17 June 3/3 To police he showed ‘promise’ of becoming a sophisticated criminal. |
† b. A mental feeling of assurance. Obs.
| a 1625 Fletcher Noble Gent. iv. iv, I have a constant promise she's my own. |
5. Comb., as promise-breach, promise-breaker, promise-maker, promise-monger; promise-bound(en, promise-crammed adjs.; promise-breaking, promise-fulfilling, promise-keeping, promise-making, promise-performing ns. and adjs.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI 133 b, He, whiche is a promise breaker, escapeth not alwaie free. 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse Wks. (Grosart) II. 10, I am quite vndone through promise-breach. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. ii. 99, I eate the Ayre promise-cramm'd, you cannot feed Capons so. 1603 ― Meas. for M. i. ii. 77 He was euer precise in promise keeping. a 1639 W. Whately Prototypes ii. xxvi. (1640) 48 A thankfull receiving of Gods promises..proveth faith to the promise-maker. 1771 Wesley Wks. (1872) VI. 85 It is hard to speak of..these promise-mongers, as they deserve. 1772 Fletcher Logica Genev. 160 A merciful, gracious promise-keeping God. 1813 Scott Trierm. ii. xx, As promise-bound, I bid the trump for tourney sound. 1842 Dickens Let. 22 Mar. (1974) III. 146 You..have set me down, I know, as a neglectful, erratic, promise-breaking and most unworthy person. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 11 If..he had also turned dissembler and promise-breaker. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 835 Awed and promise-bounden she forbore. 1940 Mind XLIX. 231 Utilitarians have tended rather to over-estimate the disastrous consequences of promise-breaking. a 1974 R. Crossman Diaries (1975) I. 249 From the point of view of the electorate this technical promise-keeping is quite unimportant. |
▪ II. promise, v.
(ˈprɒmɪs)
Forms: see prec.
[Appears early in 15th c.; f. prec. n.]
1. trans. To make promise of; to give verbal assurance of; to undertake or engage, by word or writing addressed to another person, to do or refrain from (some specified act), or to give or bestow (some specified thing): usually to the benefit or advantage of the person concerned. Often with dative (with or without to) of the person to whom the promise is made. a. with simple direct object, expressing the thing or act promised.
| c 1420 ? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 227 Oon thyng suerly I will yow promyse. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. xiii. 6 Vnto whom I was promised, before the world began, to pay ther ransome and to become man. 1508 Fisher 7 Penit. Ps. xxxii. Wks. (1876) 23 He promyseth dampnacion to them that refuseth penaunce; to them that dooth it, forgyvnes. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Catechism, They did promise and vowe three thinges in my name. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 237, I was promis'd them against the Feast. 1736 Butler Anal. i. iii. Wks. 1874 I. 69 The wonderful power and prosperity promised to the Jewish nation in the Scripture. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xii. 97 She would not promise what..she could not perform. 1872 Freeman Gen. Sketch xvi. §5. 335 All the princes promised free constitutions to their people. |
b. with obj. clause, expressing the act.
| c 1420 ? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 482 Ye me promysyd That my myght of noon shuld haue be dyspysyd. 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. lix. 515, I promyse yow that I shalle be with yow by that day, yf I be vnslayne or vnmaymed. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Catechism, Your Godfathers and Godmothers dyd promyse for you that ye should kepe Goddes commaundementes. 1690 Dryden Don Sebastian Pref., I dare boldly promise for this Play, that in the Roughness of the Numbers..you will see somewhat more masterly..than in..any of my former Tragedies. 1726 Swift Gulliver ii. viii, I made him promise he would come to see me at my house. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 417 Him..she promised that no force, Persuasion, no, nor death could alter her. |
c. with inf., expressing the act.
| 1467 Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 558 [The parker] hathe promessed me to make it as wel as he kane fore me. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 228 The Constable had promised to the kyng and the duke, to render vp to them the towne of sainct Quintynes. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. i. ii. 75 He promis'd to meete me two howres since. 1737 Pope Hor. Epist. ii. i. 178 When..we..promise our best Friends to rhyme no more. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xli, The Baronet promised to take charge of the lad at school. |
2. absol. or intr. To make a promise; to engage to do or give something. In quot. 1869, to undertake responsibility, stand sponsor for another.
| 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 26 Now haf I acomplysyd Brefly, lych as I you promysyd In the prologe. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxiv. 266 Desyre hym to render to you your londes as he promysyd. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xx. 102 He that promiseth, hath no right in the thing promised. 1716 Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 145, I cannot promise upon this so very soon, we having much public business. 1777 Burns ‘I dream'd I lay’ ii, Fickle fortune..promis'd fair, and perform'd but ill. 1842 Tennyson Dora 44 Dora promised, being meek. 1869 ― Pelleas & Ettarre 15 There were those who knew him near the King And promised for him: and Arthur made him knight. |
3. a. spec. (trans.) To engage to give (e.g. a daughter) in marriage to another; to betroth. to be promised, to be engaged or betrothed. arch.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 60 The lady Mary..was promysed to kyng Charles. a 1553 Udall Royster D. iii. ii. (Arb.) 42 Haue you he will (he sayth) and haue you he must. C. Custance. I am promised duryng my lyfe, that is iust. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. ii. 262 Her father..will not promise her to any man, Vntill the elder sister first be wed. 1738 Swift Pol. Conversat. i. 35 If she ben't marry'd, at least she's lustily promis'd. 1904 L. T. Meade Love Triumphant ii. ix. 192 If anything could induce me to promise myself to a man..it would be to Cedric Vershoyle. 1967 C. Potok Chosen xii. 200 My father promised my sister to the son of one of his followers when she was two years old. |
† b. pass. To be engaged; to have an engagement. Obs.
| 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. i. ii. 293 Cassi. Will you suppe with me to Night, Caska? Cask. No, I am promis'd forth. |
4. to promise oneself (something): to entertain the (pleasing) expectation of. Const. as in 1 a, b, c.
| 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 42 Nothing were more pleasant..then Sea-voyages, if a man might promise himselfe a good wind, and a reasonable gale. 1639 N. N. tr. Du Bosq's Compl. Woman i. 21 There are some who promise to themselves, never to discover their secrets. 1746 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. V. 45, I promise myself that you will proceed to some less exceptionable Method. 1832 H. Martineau Each & All iv. 53 She ran out, promising herself that she would be back in ten minutes. 1869 ‘Mark Twain’ Innoc. Abr. xii, We..promised ourselves that we would call around some time.., and finish the game. |
5. colloq. With obj. clause or parenthetically, and with dat. of person: to convey assurance of some fact, to assert confidently or emphatically, to declare; almost always in phrase I promise you = I assure you, I tell you plainly. a. with reference to the future, as a strong assertion of one's intention. (Nearly coinciding with 1 b, but often implying a threat of something disadvantageous or unpleasant.)
| c 1440 Generydes 1603 Thu shalt dye to morow.., And what that euer be..That wolle for the entrete.., He shall not spede I yow promysse. 1538 Starkey England i. i. 25, I promys you I schal neuer pretermyt occasyon..of helpyng my cuntrey. 1777 Dibdin Quaker i. i, You wont get a lamb out of our fold, I promise you. 1825 Thirlwall tr. Tieck's Pictures 80 Well, I promise you, you shall find I do not come again. |
b. in assurance of a statement as to the present. (Cf. expect v. 6.)
| 1469 J. Paston in P. Lett. II. 349 He losythe sore hys tyme her, I promyse yow. 1535 in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden) 74 The comyssioners, I promyse you, have been very necligent. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iv. ii. 47, I do not like thy looke I promise thee. 1655 tr. Com. Hist. Francion xii. 37 The Nights, I promise you, are very cold. 1705 Addison Italy (1733) 211 For, I promise, I long for it. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xviii. i, I promise thee it is what I have desired. 1841 F. E. Paget Tales of Village (1852) 466, I promise you I'm preciously tired already. 1862 Thackeray Round. Papers, Peal of Bells, Magnificent dandies, I promise you, some of us were. 1963 J. Kennaway Bells of Shoreditch i. i. 12 He said, ‘I promise you, you're looking very well.’ 1969 [see ghastly a. 1 b]. |
6. fig. a. To afford ground of expectation of; to cause or lead one to expect (something good or bad); to give pre-indication of. Const. as in 1 a or c.
| 1594 ? Greene Selimus 1102 My life forepassed in Pleasure's court Promises weak resistance in the fight. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 3 The houses promise more beauty outwardly then they haue inwardly. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 125 Berry is a Village which promises much at a distance, but when there, deludes the expectation. 1722 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 4 He..promised to be stout when grown up. 1832 H. Martineau Life in Wilds v. 56 A plan..which promised fair to supply the butcher with employment. 1855 Tennyson Maud i. i. xvii, I play'd with the girl when a child; she promised then to be fair. 1878 H. H. Gibbs Ombre 25 If his own hand be such as not to promise him at least two or even three tricks. 1891 Law Times XC. 459/2 An atmosphere of public discussion which promises future storms. |
b. absol. or intr. To encourage expectation, to give tokens: usually with adv., as fair, well.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. i. 146 Oft expectation fails, and most oft there Where most it promises. 1686 tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 88 The Harvest..promis'd no better then the last year. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 14 The weather promising fair. 1768 J. Byron Narr. Patagonia (1778) 153 He promised the fairest for holding out, being a very strong young man. 1847 Marryat Childr. N. Forest iv, Humphrey, the second, promised well. 1887 Gissing Thyrza I. ii. 29 It promises for another fine day to-morrow. |