promise
/ˈpɹɑmɪs/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.71 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A transaction between two persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the second person or devotes something valuable now and here to their use.
Countable
verb
To commit to (some action or outcome), or to assure (a person) of such commitment; to make an oath or vow.
verb
To give grounds for expectation, especially of something good.
Example Sentences
- "When I make a promise, I always stick to it."
- "I asked him not to, and we all heard his promise that he wouldn't."
- "He broke his promise: he said he'd return my jewellery, but never did."
- "He purſued Andrew Houſtoun upon his promiſe, to give him the like Sallary for the next year, and in abſence obtained him to be holden as confeſt and Decerned."
- "That jewelry was a promise to me."
- "His grade are poor, but I see promise in him."
Etymology
From Middle English promis, promisse, borrowed from Old French promesse, from Medieval Latin prōmissa, Latin prōmissum (“a promise”), feminine and neuter past participles of prōmittō (“to send forth, to say beforehand, to promise”), from pro (“forth”) + mittere (“to send”); see mission. Compare admit, commit, permit, etc. Displaced native ġehātan (“to promise”) and ġehāt (“a promise”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɹɑmɪs/
- British English: /ˈpɹɒmɪs/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
a lick and a promise
a promise is a promise
a promise made is a promise kept
breach of promise
break a promise
break one's promise
break-promise
election promise