ENGLISH
REFERENCE

promise

n. countable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈpɹɑməs// UK //pɹˈɒmɪs// prom·ise Archaic General-service

n. a statement you make to someone to say that you will definitely do something. It is a way of giving your word so that others can trust you.

n. a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular event will happen. Often implies a moral or legal obligation to follow through on the stated intent.


SIMPLE

He made a promise to help me with my homework.

CONTEXTUAL

The politician failed to keep her promise to lower taxes once she was elected to office.

COMPLEX

While the contract lacks a formal signature, the verbal promise made in front of witnesses may still hold weight in a small claims court.

Synonyms
Origin

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 (“I send forth, I say beforehand, I promise”), from pro (“forth”) + mittere (“to send”); see mission. Compare admit, commit, permit, etc. Displaced native ġehātan (“to promise”) and ġehāt (“a promise”).

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'make', 'keep', and 'break'.

Pitfall

I did a promise to himI made a promise to himIn English, you 'make' a promise, you do not 'do' one.

Idioms1 entry

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