promise (v.) Copy link Outline I. To make a promise1. prōmitto, mīsi, ssum, 3 (usu. denoting a formal engagement, esp. in reply to an offer or challenge)2. pollĭceor, 2 (to make a voluntary promise)3. prōfĭteor, 2 (freely to offer; very like preced.)II. To engage oneself in reply to an invitationIII. To furnish hopes • promise (v.): I. To make a promise: 1. prōmitto, mīsi, ssum, 3 (usu. denoting a formal engagement, esp. in reply to an offer or challenge): Cic.: Caes. Join: promittere ac recipere (promise and undertake), Cic. Fam. 5, 8; promittere, recipere, spondere, id. Ph. 5, 18, fin. 2. pollĭceor, 2 (to make a voluntary promise): the consul p.s the senate not to be wanting in his duty to the state, consul reipublicae se non defuturum p., Caes. B. C. 1, 1: to p. the most extravagant things, maria montesque p., Sall. Cat. 23: so, montes auri p., Ter. Ph. 1, 2, 18. Foll. by inf. alone: qui sum pollicitus ducere (usu. me ducturum), id. Andr. 3, 5, 7. Frequent. pollicitor, 1 (to p. repeatedly, make many promises): Ter.: Sall. 3. prōfĭteor, 2 (freely to offer; very like preced.): v. to offer. Join: profiteri atque polliceri [suum studium], Cic. Fam. 5, 8, med. Phr.: to p. or threaten, spem, metum ostendere, id. Verr. 4, 34, 75. II. To engage oneself in reply to an invitation: prōmitto, 3: Cic. de Or. 2, 7, 27 (pr. ad aliquem). (By no means, polliceor.) III. To furnish hopes: Phr.: the crops p. well, *segetes largam (benignam) promittunt, ostendunt, sperare jubent messem (Kr.): a youth who p.s well, adolescens summa spe praeditus (v. preced. art. fin.): he p.s to be a good general, *spem facit (ostendit) omnibus summum se ducem futurum (fore ut dux summus evadat). (Kr. gives, promittit artificem musicum, he p.s to be a musician; but the phr. appears to be without authority.)