Middle English Dictionary Entry
prō̆mis(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prō̆mis(se n. Also promise, promes(se, promese. |
| Etymology | OF promise, promesse & L prōmissum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A promise, solemn pledge, vow; also, that which is promised; (b) aquiten (ful-fillen, holden, kepen) ~, to make good or fulfill (one's) promise, keep (one's) pledge; breken ~, break a promise; maken ~, make a promise, make (sb. a promise), promise (to do or be sth.); -- sometimes with that- clause; (c) a promise of love; (d) God's promise of grace, blessing, etc.; maken ~; (e) ~ paiinge (performinge), fulfillment of a promise; ~ makinge, promising; (f) in proverbs and sayings.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2069 : Thow art fals and double of entent, Of thy promys atteynt and ek outrayed.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)541 : Of my promesse thanne dokke me.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)302 : He seide to his apostles..in these wordes..coumfortynge hem by this benigne promisse, that he schulde dwelle with hem.
- (?c1436) Duke Burgundy (Rome 1306)110 : Be trew of promesse and sadde of gouernance.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)91/7 : In Fortune..Trust not to myche, ne in hir promesse.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)13 : A man schulde be trewe to God in paiyng hise iust promissis.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1356 : Fortune..Wel oghte vs þi promesses blynde drede.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)45/1 : His maister..prayed hym to be myndefull of his promys.
- (1461) RParl.5.476b : Henry..procured..ayenst his promisse..the murdre of the same Duc.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)717/12 : He..was..trew of his promyse.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.39 : This man for trust of femynyne promysse, Wolde telle out alle.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)332 : In suche wise with promyse, thei please the covetyse.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)48/26 : The whiche promes..shalbe wrytte by a notary in an Instrument.
b
- (1423-4) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.182/1302 : He made promys to be good Frende to hem.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)24/32 : No straungere cometh before him, but þat he maketh him sum promys & graunt.
- a1456(1429) Lydg.Hen.VI Coron.Ballade (Trin-C R.3.20)138 : Holde þy promesses made of entencion.
- (1448) Shillingford49 : The seide Maier..seide he hadde made noo suche speciall promys.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)p.37 head. : It longith to a kyng specially to kepe his promys.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)55.147 : But ȝe holden ȝoure promys, On ȝow I schal don ful hard Iewys.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)375/30 : Þeze iij lordez..had made promis..to haue slayne oure King.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)6/32 : He..þoght he wold prufe whethir he wold holde his promys or noght.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)183/25 : He sulde fulfyll his promys at he had made.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)439/3 : Afterward hym happend breke þis promys.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)296 : He wold not kepe his promisse and his oth.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.53 : Hanibal..made a promyse to his fader, at the awters of theire goddes, þat he wolde ȝiffe batelle to þe Romanes.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)62/21 : Ellis we schulde breke oure promys or oure couenaunt.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.477 : If þou make promyse to do a synne..Avoyde that purpose.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)215/11 : Be-hete thou to knyghtes honours and rewardis and kepe thy Promesis.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)666 : The fissher hadde broken his promys.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1920 : This sufficith my promyse to acquyte.
c
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)17/24 : Of Venus in no wise make thi goddesse, And for nothing set store be her promys [vr. promes].
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)908 : He gaue a ryng on to Clarionas, And she toke hym Another..With trew promys..ther hertys to ensure.
d
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)192/17 : A maner gladnesse sche hadde aȝeinward of a maner hope of þe promys which God schewide to hir.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2639 : Lord god..þou on vrban hase shewyd þi pouere, Wych from þi promyssys was foreyn.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)194/25 : If thou haste knowen wel the promisses of the fader, drede thou not to be beten.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)50/14 : Almighti God remembrid the promisis that he promisid to Abraham.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)442 : Mathew from the begynnyng of the promyse That ys to Abraham, [etc.].
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)85/31 : Abide goddis promys, & þou shalt haue abundaunce of all godes in heuene.
e
- (1442) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12138 : I..never knewe of na swilke promysse makyng.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)66 : He is trewe in promys performyng.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)66 : Þou art..trewe in promys paiyng and perfoormyng.
f
- (1450) Paston2.40 : Be war of lordis promysses.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.25 : Fayre promese ofte makyth foollis fayne.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.488 : I calle neuer suche a promyse to be a dette.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)54a : So fayre promisses maketh foles fayne.
2.
A group of tapsters.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A promise of tapsters.