promise

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   promise to undertake or give

   I promise you my best effort

2. 2
   noun

   grounds for feeling hopeful about the future

   There is little or no promise that the economy will recover.

3. 3
   noun

   An oath or affirmation; a vow.

   When I make a promise, I always stick to it.

4. 4
   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 his use.

   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.

5. 5
   noun

   Reason to expect improvement or success; potential.

   My native country was full of youthful promise.

6. 6
   noun

   A placeholder object representing the eventual result of an asynchronous operation.

   You can often use observables instead of promises to deliver values asynchronously.

7. 7
   noun

   Bestowal or fulfillment of what is promised.

   He […] commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.

8. 8
   verb

   To commit to (some action or outcome), or to assure (a person) of such commitment; to make an oath or vow.

   "You think that I'll take anything." "I know you will, sweet." … "There wasn't going to be any of that. You promised there wouldn't be." "Well, there is now," she said sweetly.

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”).