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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Promeis, v. Also: -eise, -eiss(e, -ieis, prommeis. P.t. and p.p. promeist, promeis(s)it, -id, -ed. [Only Sc., f. Promeisn. Cf. Promis, Promes.]

1. tr. To promise. = Promis v. 1, Promit v.¹ 1.a. (1) 1558-66 Knox I 454.
And utheris … did promeise thair faythfull lawbouris Ib. II 36.
I am assured … that some of thame will tak a verry harde lyve befoir that ever [etc.] … but this I dar nott promeise of all 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 11.
That all sic personis as hes promeist mariage faythfully to compleit the samen 1567 G. Ball. 32.
For quhat … God … Hes promeist … And syne sworne … That he sall hald Ib. 118.
Promeist (p.t.) c1590 Fowler II 122/37.
And they wer never many that … wald affirm a thing and with ma multitud of aiths promeis it then he 1634 Fugitive Poetry II ix 11/19.
Which promeise timely fruit from such a tree 1662 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 269.
And therfoir … was obleidged to promeise and profes canonicall obedience(2) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2273 (B).
That he sowld prommeis me ane gud pardoun 1549 Compl. 36/34.
Of the future eternal … felicite that Gode hes promeist til al them that [etc.] 15.. Wyf Awcht. 43. 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 36.
And I thairfoir to thame promeist the wyne 1560 Confession of Faith in 14.. Acts II 527/1.
And we … do promeis vnto him satisfactioun a1578 Pitsc. II 20/28.
Promeisand him ane remissioun 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I 157.
I will promeis yow your lyf, Sir, gif [etc.] 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 73.
Promeist (p.p.) 1662 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 268.
Promeised (p.p.)(3) 1558-66 Knox II 297.
And then never mean to keap wourd of that quhilk thei promeisse a1578 Pitsc. I 142/11.
Breaking maist wnworthelie the solempt aith and faithfull promise that the saidis ambassadouris did promeis to me 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 131.
Thow said, and promeist thir wordis, thow suld put ane schot in his sydeb. (1) 1520–1 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 36.
He understuid umquhill George Thomsone and his spous promeist in marriage to geiff to David Cadȝow ii bollis of bere 1558-66 Knox I 346. a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii 63.
Quhair Patrik Bannatyne hes promeist to compeir 1568 Maxwell Mem. II 136.
The payment … ȝe promeist to haif in reddines lange syne a1578 Pitsc. I 21/2.
He promeissit faithfullie to mak the said erle mutuall support 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 224.
Promieissis 1609 Kinghorn Kirk S. 17.
Jhone Lambart, … being accusit for his ignorance in nocht hawing the commands, … promeissit to get thame 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 164.
Promeiss 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 213.
Beir which he lykewayes receaved and promeisid … to kill(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7701.
I promeis ȝow nouther in word nor deid Ȝow for to craib 1602 Conv. Burghs II 142.
Gif ony skipper hes promeissit to ane merchand to carie his guidisc. (1) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7803.
Quod scho, Schir will ȝe promeis faithfullie, … that ȝe will mary me 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 2 May.
Creawing relent of censur promeising that … thay sall never fall vnder the lyk censur againn 1642 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 39.
Promeissit(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 298.
And I promeis that within ȝeiris fiue He sall be mair … scientiue, Nor I 1567 G. Ball. 123.
Promeist (p.t.) 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 45.
Hector promeist be extensioun of his hand that the said Thomas sould nocht eschaip 1604 Elgin Rec. II 127.
The minister promeisit that gif any millar transgressit … they sould be compellit [etc.] 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 260.
Promeist (p.p.)d. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 491.
Ilk ane … promeist … Mair large nor thay wald do

2. a. To promeis (un)to oneself, to assure oneself. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 11/4.
But hoaping yea euen promeising unto my self that God … sall [etc.] 1692 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes Fiscall and Jonet Henderson against John Makjore etc.
Telling hir … that she having bewitched John Makjore behooved now to pray for him promeising to themselvs that it was in hir power to recover him

b. ? To vow, ? to determine (that etc.): cf. Promit v.¹ 3, Promis v. 2. a1578 Pitsc. I 344/18.
Of thir nowellis the King of Ingland was verie heavilie displeissit and promeisit that he sould nevir cum so far north againe

c. To promise (something to another's disadvantage). Cf. Promis v. 2 b. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 91 (T).
I promeis thé heir to thy chaftis ill cheir 1604 Elgin Rec. II 125.
Thei hard hir say scho promeisit to them all ane iwill turne