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   promise

   /ˈprɒmɪs/

   noun

   • 1. a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen: "what happened to all those firm promises of support?" Similar word of honourwordassurancepledgevowguaranteeoathbondundertakingagreementcommitmentcontractcovenantcompact
   • ▪ an indication that something is likely to occur: "dawn came with the promise of fine weather" Similar indicationhintsuggestionsign
   • 2. the quality of potential excellence: "he showed great promise even as a junior officer" Similar potentialabilityaptitudecapabilitycapacitypotentialitytalentflair

   verb

   • 1. assure someone that one will definitely do something or that something will happen: "he promised to forward my mail" Similar give one's wordswearpledgevowundertakeguaranteeassurecontractengagegive an undertakinggive an assurancecommit oneselfbind oneselfcross one's heart (and hope to die)swear/take an oathcovenantarchaic:plight
   • ▪ pledge (someone, especially a woman) to marry someone else; betroth: archaic "I've been promised to him for years"
   • 2. give good grounds for expecting (a particular occurrence): "forthcoming concerts promise a feast of music" Similar indicategive an/every indication oflead one to expectgive good grounds for expectingpoint todenotesignifybe a sign ofbe evidence ofshow signs ofhint atsuggestgive hope ofhold out hopes ofbespeakpresagebe a presage ofaugurheraldbodeforeshadowportendliterary:betokenforetokenforeboderare:harbinger
   • ▪ announce (something) as being expected to happen: "forecasters were promising a record snowfall in Boston"
   • ▪ contemplate the pleasant expectation of: "he tidied up the sitting room, promising himself an early night"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin promissum ‘something promised’, neuter past participle of promittere ‘put forth, promise’, from pro- ‘forward’ + mittere ‘send’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. promiser noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • O

     1

   • M

     3

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

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