Definition of Promise

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Promise

In general, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do, or to forbear to do, a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.

An engagement by one person to another, either in words or in writing, but properly not under seal, for the performance or nonperformance of some particular thing. The word promise is used to denote the mere engagement of a person, without regard to the consideration for it, or the corresponding duty of the party to whom it is made.

That which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise.

Bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised.

To engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making, or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money.

To afford reason to expect; to cause hope or assurance of; as, the clouds promise rain.

To make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow; as, the proprietors promised large tracts of land; the city promised a reward.

To give assurance by a promise, or binding declaration.

To afford hopes or expectation; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil.

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Promise Quotations

I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.
Barack Obama

Better a broken promise than none at all.
Mark Twain

The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward toward unity and widely shared prosperity - or it will move apart.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Girls we love for what they are; young men for what they promise to be.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
Martin Luther

Love always creates, it never destroys. In this lie's man's only promise.
Leo Buscaglia

If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing.
Napoleon Bonaparte

I can promise you that when I go to Sacramento, I will pump up Sacramento.
Arnold Schwarzenegger

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
Niccolo Machiavelli

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
Niccolo Machiavelli

Promise Translations

promise in Dutch is beloven, toezeggen, uitloven
promise in Finnish is luvata
promise in French is promettent, promettre, promesse, promettons
promise in German is Versprechen, Zusage, Versprechen
promise in Italian is promettere, promessa
promise in Latin is fides, promitto, promitto, propono
promise in Portuguese is promessa
promise in Spanish is prometer, agradar, afirmativa

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