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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.

Promis, n. Also: -ys(e, -ise, -isse, -ice; -ishe; (-yst). [Late ME and e.m.E. promys (c 1400), -yse (c 1532), -is(e (15th c.), L. prōmissum. Cf. Promeis, Promes (also Promissio(u)n n., Promit n.).]

1. A promise: a more or less solemn undertaking by one person or group of persons to do or refrain from some specified act or to bestow some specified thing, to the advantage or pleasure of another person or group.Occas. also, a contractual undertaking or obligation in writing, formally set out and binding in law.In various usual collocations and constructions.(1) 1472 Lennox Mun. 91.
It may nocht be callit possessioun … , bot ane nakit promys and febyll intrusioun failȝeing in forme and ordour and law 1533 Boece 517 b.
Sua King Johnne … began of new contrare his promis & aith be exactions to supprise [etc.] 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 66.
That I … hes cum na speid bot gettis fair worddis and promissis wythe ofputeng 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7903.
Now I desire agane ȝe wald me wed Conforme to ȝour conditioun and promis 1570 Bann. Memor. 57.
Thir wer the glistering promises whairwith Sathan … eludit my sences a1578 Pitsc. I 345/26.
And thocht the king had nocht done his dewtie … considderand the kingis promise Ib. II 19/5. 1588 King Cat. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 215/32.
Gif craftsmen haue nocht vrought leily and treuly according to thair promise 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Latin) ii 106 a.
Pollicitatio, ane promise or hecht, est vnius offerentis promissio 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 380.(2) 1473 Acts II 105/1.
And to schew to him his awne lettres and promissis maid therupoun c1475 Wall. viii 721.
As thair promys was maid 1513 Doug. xii i 6.
Forto compleit the promys he had maid 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 57.
To hald me that man that wil by na vyis mak lesingis nor mak hiech promisis a1578 Pitsc. I 256/24. 1596 Dalr. II 137/19.
Mony fair promises with false hartis tha mak(3) c1475 Wall. iv 49.
Sadly awisit Wallace remembrith him thar On the promys he maid his eyme befor c1490 Irland Asl. MS 4/26.
Allswa sic a promys maid the enemy to thi progenitouris in paradys 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 66.
Nochtwythstandene all promissis maid to me be my lord governour I beleif [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I 110/19, 22. a1578 Pitsc. II 16/21.
Promisse Ib. I 203/18. 1596 Dalr. II 218/9.(4) c1490 Porteous Noblenes 174/13 (Asl.).
Thar sayng and promys fermely haldin and kepit a1500 Seven S. 2630.
Will the king kepe his faire promis [: this] Ib. 2635. a1500 Bk. Chess 1575. 1513 Doug. ii iii 32.
Sa mot thou, Troy, … Kepe me thy promys and thi lawte baith Ib. x ii 137. 1533 Bell. Livy I 33/32. 1549 Compl. 76/35. 1557 Inverness Rec. I 10.
To fullfill his promise in lerning of the said Jame to his craft 1562-3 Winȝet I 56/6, 60/6. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 400. a1578 Pitsc. II 18/9. 1596 Dalr. I 247/23.
Nocht standeng to his promise tueching the souerans(5) 1513 Doug. ii iii 26.
Leiffull is now to brek … The sworn promys that I to Grekis maid Ib. vi ix 175. Ib. xii i 28.
And al for nocht ȝon cowart Eneadanys Thar promys and thar wordis cumis aganys 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 25.
Quhen thai war fundin rebelland to thair promys maid to King Charlis 1562-3 Winȝet I 110 marg. 1568 Campbell Love-Lett. Mary 30.
For inlaik that the Quene of England has maid of hir promise(6) 1490 Irland Mir. I 136/26.
O haly ladeis and virginis, heire nocht the promys of Wenus seruandis 1583 Reg. Morton I 137.
Sua broder we man len on to his ma[jeste] promis 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 164.
And partlie leanyng to the oithes and promisses of the rebellis and partle [etc.](7) 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 127.
The secund part … he confessis except the promys of inputtyn of Elizabeth in the cottoun of Forret 1562-3 Winȝet I 54/27. 1612 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 123. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 89.
That a promise to purchase … under the seal and subscriptione of the abbot … obligabat promittentem [etc.] 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
And now subscribed … with our resolution and promises … to maintaine the sayd true religion [etc.] 1638 Dumbarton B. Rec. 55.
Thair promise of payment(8) a1500 Seven S. 635.
With promys of full gret reward 1533 Bell. Livy I 33/26.
That nowthir faith band nor promis [B. promes] suld be observate to ane tratoure 1584 Melvill 214.
Flatterie leing braking of promise tricking taunting [etc.] Id. 24.
And promise of the benefeit of a bursare's place … maid the mater to go fordwart c1610 Melville Mem. 16.
Causing the letter of promys and pacification to be red in his presens in the Dutch leid 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 164. 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 254.
Advyse thé weill for promice makis debt a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 89 h. of ch.
Of promisse(9) 1523–4 Acta Conc. MS XXXIV 44.
I beseik ȝour grace at ȝe wald caus the lordis to fulfill me my promissis of my landis & stedingis quhilkis I want ȝit

b. Of marriage. 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 113.
Becaws of his consent and promys maid to Elizabeth Autherlony of befoir Ib. 127.
And confessis thar wes ane condicional promys of mariaige betuix hym and Elizabeth … mayd tym articulat 1565 Ib. 237.
To se and heyr promys of mariaig betuix James and Joanna 1566–7 Ib. 292.
He hard Issobell … confes Wyliam to be hyr husband and at sche … wald keip promys wyth hym so lang as sche levit 1561 Ib. 128, etc. 1635 Elgin Rec. II 229.
Alexander Watsone litster and Violet Gordoun wer handfast together wnder promise of mariage and set Thomas Murdoche cautioun for ther performance

c. Without promise, without assurance or guarantee, unconditionally. = Promeis n. 1 c. c1475 Wall. vi 352.
That he sulde cum him till, Witht-out promys, and put him in his will

2. A divine or scriptural promise. = Promes n. b.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 121/31.
Na forȝet nocht … the promys He maid before to the hie lady Ib. 134/20.
And sche had werray hope and traist of the angellis promys Ib. 82/12, 136/10. Id. Asl. MS 16/19.
And be the promis of the assistence … of the Haly Trinite 1533 Gau 106/12.
Ane diligent reder ma collec to gider al the promissis of Christ c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 3.
Gene. xxii: God made this promis vnto Abraham, saying [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1023, 1341. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 173/9.
Promyse Ib. 172/22. 1562-3 Winȝet II 3/18.
The suete promise of God maid to the faythful peple conuertit to him 1558-66 Knox II 263.
The promisses that is maid to the servandis of God by the propheite Esais Ib. 110. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 37/7. 1635 Dickson Hebrews 296.
The blessing of being an heyre of promise 1638 Henderson Serm. 179.
We should lippen to Him also in the performance of all other promises(b) 1581 Burne Disput. 139.
Thay vil deny the fulfilling of Goddis promishes(2) 1533 Gau 105/30.
Haid notht God … confortit hime be promis of grace

3. The thing or performance promised.(1) 1513 Doug. iv viii 45.
His ald promys [Ruddim. promyse] na mair wil I hym crave Ib. vii ix 4.
This hellis goddes ioysing at hir will Hir promys [Ruthv. hir promyst] quhilk scho hecht forto fulfill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8488.
Wald he get his promis [: wis] Fra the kings grace?(2) Arundel MS 288/300.
Haill Mary, the maist desirit promis of propheitis 1567 G. Ball. 23.
O Lord God haly Spreit, … Trew Christis promis sweit