▪ I. † ˈpromit, n. Sc. Obs.
[f. next.]
= promise n. 1, 2.
| 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. iii. lxxvi, In thair promittis thay stude euer firme and plane. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 113 My beleue is in thy word, And all thy promittis maist and leist. |
▪ II. † proˈmit, v. Obs.
Forms: 5–6 promit, -itt(e, -yt(te (5 pa. tense promit, -ytt). β. 5 promette.
[ad. L. prōmitt-ĕre to let go or send forth, to put forth; to promise, give hope of; to foretell; f. prō, pro-1 + mitt-ĕre to let go, send. The β form a. F. promett-re (10th c. in Godef.) to promise.]
1. = promise v. 1, 2.
| 1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 297/2 Promyttyng and behotyng..to do, kepe, observe and fulfille..al yat shall be decreed. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VI. 93 Promittynge if he myȝhte escape þat pestilence, þat he wolde dye in goynge pilgremages. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 141 He has payit thame all that he promyttit thame. 1527 in Fiddes Wolsey ii. (1726) 141 Promytting..that from henceforth I shall never retorn agen to the said heresies. a 1584 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1131 Promitting, unwitting, Ȝour hechts ȝou neuir huiked. |
| β c 1422 Hoccleve Jereslaus's Wife 802 If your pardon Yee me promette. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 435 Y promette feithefully to be rulede by hym. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn xxiii. 78 ‘Syre’, sayd the pucell, ‘I promette you that youre hoste shalbe al to gydre contented of you.’ |
b. = promise v. 5 a.
| 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop v. xvi, I promytte and warne the that yf thow come nyghe me I shalle slee the with this grete clubbe. |
¶ 2. Erroneous for permit: perh. scribal error.
| c 1500 Joseph Arim. (E.E.T.S.) 32 He..commaunded hym he sholde promytte and suffre the seruauntes of almyghty god to passe out of pryson. 1523 [Coverdale] Old God & New (1534) E j, They were promitted and suffred to retreate. 1565 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 330 The Quenis Majestie promittis thame to tak of her awin woddis as may serve to the bigging of neidfull houssis for the labouraris. |
¶ The alleged sense ‘To disclose, to publish, to confess’ is a figment founded on a misquotation: see below.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 33 b, Pardone of all offences and crymes committed, and promocions and rewardes for obeynge to the kynges request. [Misquoted in Cassell's Encycl. Dict. ‘of all offences and crimes promitted’: whence in Cent. Dict., and (def.) in Funk's Stand. Dict.] |