To afford a basis for expecting, To make a declaration assuring that something will or will not be done, To afford hopes or expectation; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil, transitive verb_ To engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making, or the like; to covenant; to engage, To make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow, To be assured; to have strong confidence, verb_ make a promise or commitment, promise to undertake or give, give grounds for expectations, noun_ a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future, An oath or affirmation; a vow, That which is promised; fulfilment or grant of what is promised, adjective_ 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, That which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction, Bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised