prom·ise (pr m  s)n. 1. a. A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow. b. Something promised. 2. Indication of something favorable to come; expectation: a promise of spring in the air. 3. Indication of future excellence or success: a player of great promise. v. prom·ised, prom·is·ing, prom·is·es v.tr. 1. To commit oneself by a promise to do or give; pledge: left but promised to return. 2. To afford a basis for expecting: thunderclouds that promise rain. v.intr. 1. To make a declaration assuring that something will or will not be done. 2. To afford a basis for expectation: an enterprise that promises well. [Middle English promis, from Old French promise, from Medieval Latin pr  missa, alteration of Latin prmissum, from neuter past participle of prmittere, to send forth, promise : pr-, forth; see pro-1 + mittere, to send.]prom is·er n.Synonyms: promise, pledge, swear, vow1 These verbs mean to declare solemnly that one will follow a particular course of action: promises to write soon; pledged to uphold the law; swore to get revenge; vowed to fight to the finish. |
promise [ˈprɒmɪs]
vb
1. (often foll by to; when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to give an assurance of (something to someone); undertake (to do something) in the future I promise that I will come
2. (tr) to undertake to give (something to someone) he promised me a car for my birthday
3. (when tr, takes an infinitive) to cause one to expect that in the future one is likely (to be or do something) she promises to be a fine soprano
4. (usually passive) to engage to be married; betroth I'm promised to Bill
5. (tr) to assure (someone) of the authenticity or inevitability of something (often in the parenthetic phrase I promise you, used to emphasize a statement) there'll be trouble, I promise you
n
1. an undertaking or assurance given by one person to another agreeing or guaranteeing to do or give something, or not to do or give something, in the future
2. indication of forthcoming excellence or goodness a writer showing considerable promise
3. the thing of which an assurance is given
[from Latin prōmissum a promise, from prōmittere to send forth]
promiser n
Promise of tapsters: barmen collectively.
Promise
See Also: RELIABILITY/UNRELIABILITY
- He promises like a merchant-man and pays like a man-of-war —Italian proverb
- His promises are lighter than the breath that utters them —John Ray’s Proverbs
- Lovers’ oaths are thin as rain —Dorothy Parker
- A pledge unpaid is like thunder without rain —Abraham Hasdai
- Promise as solid as a bundle of water —Hindu proverb
Modernized to non-sexist English from “A woman’s word is like a bundle of water.”
- Promises are like pie-crusts —Danish proverb
- The promises of authors are like the vows of lovers —Samuel Johnson
See Also: WRITERS/WRITING
- When a man takes an oath, he’s holding his own self in his own hands. Like water. And if he opens his fingers then, he needn’t hope to find himself again —Robert Bolt
promise
- devout, devote - Devout and devote come from Latin de- and vovere, "promise."
- fiance - French for "a promise."
- gage - In "engage," it means "pledge, promise."
- promise - Latin promittere originally meant "send forth," but evolved to mean "say in advance, foretell," and then "cause to expect," hence, promise.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  promise - a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the futurededication, commitment - a message that makes a pledge speech act - the use of language to perform some act oath - a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior; "they took an oath of allegiance" pinning - a mutual promise of a couple not to date anyone else; on college campuses it was once signaled by the giving of a fraternity pin rain check - a promise that an unaccepted offer will be renewed in the future |
| 2. | promise - grounds for feeling hopeful about the future; "there is little or no promise that he will recover" rainbow - an illusory hope; "chasing rainbows" | |
| Verb | 1. |  promise - make a promise or commitment swear off - promise to abstain from; "I have sworn off cigarettes altogether" declare - state emphatically and authoritatively; "He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with" |
| 2. | promise - promise to undertake or give; "I promise you my best effort" declare - state emphatically and authoritatively; "He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with" | |
| 3. | promise - make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election" read - interpret the significance of, as of palms, tea leaves, intestines, the sky; also of human behavior; "She read the sky and predicted rain"; "I can't read his strange behavior"; "The fortune teller read his fate in the crystal ball" hazard, guess, venture, pretend - put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation; "I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again"; "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong" outguess, second-guess - attempt to anticipate or predict augur - predict from an omen prophesy, vaticinate - predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration | |
| 4. | promise - give grounds for expectations; "The new results were promising"; "The results promised fame and glory" be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" |
promise
verb
noun
1. guarantee, word, bond, vow, commitment, pledge, undertaking, assurance, engagement, compact, oath, covenant, word of honour If you make a promise, you should keep it.
2. potential, ability, talent, capacity, capability, flair, aptitude He first showed promise as an athlete in grade school.
Quotations
"We promise according to our hopes, and perform according to our fears" [La Rochefoucauld Maxims]
"Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken" [Jonathan Swift Polite Conversation]
"We promise according to our hopes, and perform according to our fears" [La Rochefoucauld Maxims]
"Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken" [Jonathan Swift Polite Conversation]
Translations
promise [ˈprɒmɪs]
A. N
1. (= pledge) → promesa f
a promise is a promise → lo prometido es deuda
promises, promises! (iro) → ¡mucho prometer y poco hacer!
is that a promise? → ¿me lo prometes?
to break one's promise → no cumplir su promesa, faltar a su promesa
to hold or keep sb to his promise → obligar a algn a cumplir su promesa, hacer que algn cumpla su promesa
to keep a/one's promise → cumplir una/su promesa
to make (sb) a promise → hacer una promesa(a algn)
I made him a promise that I'd come and visit him → le hice la promesa de que or le prometí que vendría a visitarlo
I might do it but I'm not making any promises → puede que lo haga, pero no prometo nada
promise of marriage → palabra f de matrimonio
to release sb from his promise → absolver a algn de su promesa
the party has received many promises of support → al partido se le ha prometido mucho apoyo
see also lick B
a promise is a promise → lo prometido es deuda
promises, promises! (iro) → ¡mucho prometer y poco hacer!
is that a promise? → ¿me lo prometes?
to break one's promise → no cumplir su promesa, faltar a su promesa
to hold or keep sb to his promise → obligar a algn a cumplir su promesa, hacer que algn cumpla su promesa
to keep a/one's promise → cumplir una/su promesa
to make (sb) a promise → hacer una promesa(a algn)
I made him a promise that I'd come and visit him → le hice la promesa de que or le prometí que vendría a visitarlo
I might do it but I'm not making any promises → puede que lo haga, pero no prometo nada
promise of marriage → palabra f de matrimonio
to release sb from his promise → absolver a algn de su promesa
the party has received many promises of support → al partido se le ha prometido mucho apoyo
see also lick B
2. (= hope, prospect)
full of promise → muy prometedor
she fulfilled or lived up to the promise she'd shown in the '84 Olympics → demostró estar a la altura de lo que prometía en las Olimpiadas del 84
America held (out) the promise of a new life → América representaba la promesa de una nueva vida, América daba esperanzas de una nueva vida
a young man of promise → un joven que promete
she showed considerable promise as a pianist → prometía mucho como pianista
full of promise → muy prometedor
she fulfilled or lived up to the promise she'd shown in the '84 Olympics → demostró estar a la altura de lo que prometía en las Olimpiadas del 84
America held (out) the promise of a new life → América representaba la promesa de una nueva vida, América daba esperanzas de una nueva vida
a young man of promise → un joven que promete
she showed considerable promise as a pianist → prometía mucho como pianista
B. VT
1. (= pledge) → prometer
the promised aid had not been sent → no se había enviado la ayuda prometida
to promise (sb) that → prometer(a algn)que
I promised that I'd go → prometí que iría
promise me you won't tell her → prométeme que no se lo dirás
to promise (sb) to do sth → prometer(a algn)hacer algo
you must promise me to do as I say → tienes que prometerme que harás lo que yo te diga
he promised faithfully to return it → dio su palabra de que lo devolvería
I promised myself I would go and visit her → me prometí que iría a visitarla
buy that new dress you've been promising yourself → cómprate ese nuevo vestido que te habías hecho el propósito de comprarte
she telephoned, as promised → llamó, tal y como había prometido
to promise sb sth; promise sth to sb → prometer dar algo a algn
to promise sb the earth or the moon → prometer el oro y el moro a algn
the Promised Land → la Tierra Prometida
the promised aid had not been sent → no se había enviado la ayuda prometida
to promise (sb) that → prometer(a algn)que
I promised that I'd go → prometí que iría
promise me you won't tell her → prométeme que no se lo dirás
to promise (sb) to do sth → prometer(a algn)hacer algo
you must promise me to do as I say → tienes que prometerme que harás lo que yo te diga
he promised faithfully to return it → dio su palabra de que lo devolvería
I promised myself I would go and visit her → me prometí que iría a visitarla
buy that new dress you've been promising yourself → cómprate ese nuevo vestido que te habías hecho el propósito de comprarte
she telephoned, as promised → llamó, tal y como había prometido
to promise sb sth; promise sth to sb → prometer dar algo a algn
to promise sb the earth or the moon → prometer el oro y el moro a algn
the Promised Land → la Tierra Prometida
2. (= forecast, augur) → augurar
their policies promise little for the future → su política no augura un futuro muy prometedor
those clouds promise rain → esas nubes amenazan lluvia
it promises to be hot today → el día se presenta caluroso
the debate promises to be lively → el debate se presenta animado
their policies promise little for the future → su política no augura un futuro muy prometedor
those clouds promise rain → esas nubes amenazan lluvia
it promises to be hot today → el día se presenta caluroso
the debate promises to be lively → el debate se presenta animado
promise [ˈprɒmɪs]
n
(= undertaking) → promesse f
a promise to do sth → une promesse de faire qch
to make a promise → faire une promesse
to make sb a promise → faire une promesse à qn
He made me a promise → Il m'a fait une promesse.
to make a promise to do sth → promettre de faire qch
to break a promise → manquer à sa promesse
to keep one's promise → tenir sa promesse
that's a promise! → c'est promis!
to live up to its promise (= match expectations) → se montrer à la hauteur des attentes
a promise to do sth → une promesse de faire qch
to make a promise → faire une promesse
to make sb a promise → faire une promesse à qn
He made me a promise → Il m'a fait une promesse.
to make a promise to do sth → promettre de faire qch
to break a promise → manquer à sa promesse
to keep one's promise → tenir sa promesse
that's a promise! → c'est promis!
to live up to its promise (= match expectations) → se montrer à la hauteur des attentes
(= potential) a student of great promise → un étudiant très prometteur, un étudiant plein de promesses
a young man of promise → un jeune homme plein de promesses
to show promise → montrer des dispositions
When she was young, she showed great promise as a tennis player → Lorsqu'elle était jeune, elle montrait de remarquables dispositions pour le tennis.
to be full of promise → être plein(e) de promesses
a young man of promise → un jeune homme plein de promesses
to show promise → montrer des dispositions
When she was young, she showed great promise as a tennis player → Lorsqu'elle était jeune, elle montrait de remarquables dispositions pour le tennis.
to be full of promise → être plein(e) de promesses
vt → promettre
to promise sth to sb, to promise sb sth → promettre qch à qn
to promise (that) ... → promettre que ...
to promise sb (that) ... → promettre à qn que ...
He promised his mother that he would write → Il a promis à sa mère qu'il écrirait.
promise me you won't be ... → promets-moi de ne pas être ...
Promise me you won't be late → Promets-moi de ne pas être en retard.
Promise me you will not waste your time → Promets-moi de ne pas perdre ton temps.
to promise sth to sb, to promise sb sth → promettre qch à qn
to promise (that) ... → promettre que ...
to promise sb (that) ... → promettre à qn que ...
He promised his mother that he would write → Il a promis à sa mère qu'il écrirait.
promise me you won't be ... → promets-moi de ne pas être ...
Promise me you won't be late → Promets-moi de ne pas être en retard.
Promise me you will not waste your time → Promets-moi de ne pas perdre ton temps.
promise
n
(= pledge) → Versprechen nt; their promise of help → ihr Versprechen zu helfen; promise of marriage → Eheversprechen nt; under promise of (form) → mit dem Versprechen (+gen); is that a promise? → ganz bestimmt?; to make somebody a promise → jdm ein Versprechen geben or machen; make me one promise → versprich mir eins; I’m not making any promises → versprechen kann ich nichts; to hold or keep somebody to his promise → jdn an sein Versprechen binden; promises, promises! → Versprechen, nichts als Versprechen!
(= hope, prospect) → Hoffnung f, → Aussicht f; a young woman of promise → eine vielversprechende junge Frau; to hold out a or the promise of something to somebody → jdm Hoffnungen auf etw (acc) → machen; to show promise → zu den besten Hoffnungen berechtigen; she had a promise of passion in her eyes → ihre Augen verrieten Leidenschaft
vt (= pledge) → versprechen; (= forecast, augur) → hindeuten auf (+acc); to promise (somebody) to do something → (jdm) versprechen, etw zu tun; to promise somebody something, to promise something to somebody → jdm etw versprechen; to promise somebody the earth → jdm das Blaue vom Himmel herunter versprechen; promise me one thing → versprich mir eins; to be promised to somebody (dated) → jdm versprochen sein (old); I’m not promising anything but … → ich will nichts versprechen, aber …; I won’t do it again, I promise you → ich werde es nie wieder tun, das verspreche ich Ihnen; you’ll regret this, I promise you → ich verspreche dir, das wirst du bereuen; this promises trouble → das sieht nach Ärger aus; this promises better things to come → das lässt auf Besseres hoffen; it promised to be another scorching day → der Tag versprach wieder heiß zu werden; the Promised Land (Bibl, fig) → das Gelobte Land
vi
(= pledge) → versprechen; (do you) promise? → versprichst du es?; promise! (= will you promise) → versprichs mir, ehrlich?; (= I promise) → ehrlich!; I’ll try, but I’m not promising → ich werde es versuchen, aber ich kann nichts versprechen; but you promised! → aber du hast es doch versprochen!
to promise well → vielversprechend sein
vr to promise oneself something → sich (dat) → etw versprechen; I’ve promised myself never to do it again → ich habe mir geschworen, dass ich das nicht noch einmal mache
promise [ˈprɒmɪs]
1. n → promessa
to make sb a promise → fare una promessa a qn
to keep one's promise → mantenere la propria promessa
a young man of promise → un giovane promettente
to show promise → promettere bene
to make sb a promise → fare una promessa a qn
to keep one's promise → mantenere la propria promessa
a young man of promise → un giovane promettente
to show promise → promettere bene
2. vt → promettere
to promise (sb) to do sth → promettere (a qn) di fare qc
to promise sb sth, to promise sth to sb → promettere qc a qn
to promise sb the earth or the moon (fig) → promettere a qn mari e monti
to promise o.s. sth → promettere a se stesso/a qc
to promise (sb) to do sth → promettere (a qn) di fare qc
to promise sb sth, to promise sth to sb → promettere qc a qn
to promise sb the earth or the moon (fig) → promettere a qn mari e monti
to promise o.s. sth → promettere a se stesso/a qc
3. vi I can't promise, but ... → non te (or ve ) lo prometto, ma...
to promise well → promettere bene
to promise well → promettere bene
v promise [ˈpromis]
1 to say, or give one's word (that one will, or will not, do something etc) I promise (that) I won't be late; I promise not to be late; I won't be late, I promise (you)! belowe يُعْطي وَعْدا обещавам slíbit love versprechen υπόσχομαι prometer lubama قول دادن luvata promettre (de) לְהַבטִיחַ प्रतिज्ञा करना, वचन देना (meg)ígér berjanji lofa (að) promettere 約束する 약속하다 (pa)žadėti apsolīt; solīties berjanji beloven love przyrzekać prometer a promite обещать sľúbiť obljubiti obećati lova สัญญา söz vermek 允諾 обіцяти وعدہ کرنا hứa 允诺
2 to say or give one's assurance that one will give He promised me a new dress. beloof يَعِدُ بأن يُعْطي обещавам slíbit love versprechen τάζω prometer lubama وعده دادن luvata promettre לְהַבטִיחַ आशा दिलाना या देना ígér menjanjikan lofa promettere 約束する 보장하다 (pa)žadėti []solīt menjanjikan beloven gi løfte om, garantere obiecywać prometer a promite посулить sľúbiť obljubiti obećati lova สัญญา vaat etmek, ... sözü vermek 向...保證給予...(或答應...) обіцяти يقين دہاني کرنا đảm bảo 向...保证给予...（或答应...）
3 to show signs of future events or developments This situation promises well for the future. voorspel, beloof يُبَشِّرُ предсказвам slibovat love Hoffnung erwecken υπόσχομαι, παρέχω ελπίδες prometer tõotama حاکی بودن؛ خبر از چیزی دادن enteillä promettre לְהַבטִיחַ विश्वास दिलाना ígérkezik menjanjikan harapan lofa promettere 見込みのある 기대하게 하다 teikti vilčių, žadėti solīt; dot izredzes dijangka veelbelovend zijn tegne (til), love godt zapowiadać (się) prometer a fi promiţător выглядеть многообещающе sľubovať obetati obećati lova, förebåda เป็นสัญญาของความสำเร็จ ümit vermek, olacağa benzemek 有...的可能 обіцяти اميد افزا ہونا báo hiệu 有...的可能
n
1 something promised He made a promise; I'll go with you – that's a promise! belofte وَعْد обещание slib løfte das Versprechen υπόσχεση promesa lubadus قول lupaus promesse הַבטָחָה प्रतिज्ञा, प्रतिश्रुति, वचन ígéret janji loforð promessa 約束 약속 pažadas solījums janji belofte løfte, tilsagn obietnica promessa promisiune обещание sľub obljuba obećanje löfte คำมั่นสัญญา söz, vaat 諾言，承諾的事物 обіцянка وعدہ lời hứa 诺言，承诺的事物
2 a sign of future success She shows great promise in her work. verwagting وَعْد، بَشير بالخَيْر والنَّجاح добри перспективи příslib forventning die Hoffnung προοπτική επιτυχίας futuro (tuleviku)lootus دارای آینده خوب lupaus avenir כִּישָרוֹן מַבטִיחַ आशा, प्रत्याशा remény pertanda akan sukses fyrirheit promessa 見込み 유망함 viltys, perspektyva perspektīva; izredzes harapan veelbelovend teken løfterike utsikter (dobre) rokowania, zapowiedź powodzenia promessa speranţă, promisiune перспектива prísľub obet obećanje löfte, talang สัญญาของความสำเร็จ ümit, beklenti (有)前途，(有)出息 перспектива اميد افزا علامت triển vọng （有）前途，（有）出息
adj promising
showing promise; likely to be good She's a promising pianist; Her work is promising. belowend واعِدٌ، مُبَشِّرٌ بالخَيْر والنَّجاح обещаващ slibný lovende vielversprechend πολλά υποσχόμενος prometedor lootustäratav پرآتیه؛ امیدوار کننده lupaava prometteur מַבטִיחַ आशाजनक, उदीयमान, होनहार sokat ígérő memberi harapan efnilegur promettente 有望な 전도 유망한 daug žadantis, perspektyvus daudzsološs mempunyai harapan veelbelovend lovende, løfterik obiecujący prometedor promiţător многообещающий sľubný obetajoč obećavajući lovande ที่มีความหวัง ümit verici, geleceği parlak 有希望的，有前途的 перспективний; такий, що подає надії ہونہار، اميد افزا đầy triển vọng 有希望的，有前途的
promise → عهد, يُواعد slib, slíbit løfte, love versprechen υπόσχεση, υπόσχομαι promesa, prometer lupaus, luvata promesse, promettre obećanje, obećati promessa, promettere 約束, 約束する 약속, 약속하다 belofte, beloven løfte, love obiecać, obietnica promessa, prometer обещание, обещать löfte, lova คำมั่นสัญญา, รับปากว่าจะทำหรือไม่ söz, söz vermek hứa, lời hứa 允诺, 许诺
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