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by unknown on April 25th, 2007
promise (n.)
c.1400, from L. promissum "a promise," noun use of neuter pp. of promittere "send forth, foretell, promise," from pro- "before" + mittere "to put, send" (see mission). Ground sense is "declaration made about the future, about some act to be done or not done." The verb is attested from c.1420. Promised land (1538) is a ref. to the land of Canaan promised to Abraham and his progeny (Heb. xi.9, etc.; Gk. ten ges tes epangelias). Promising "showing signs of future excellence" is from 1601. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=promise&searchmode=none
by Nuttsky on April 25th, 2007
It's from Latin: Pro = forward; mittere = to send. It's a borrowing that entered English in the early 15th century.
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