From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
promise
n 1: a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do
(or not to do) something in the future
2: grounds for feeling hopeful about the future; "there is
little or no promise that he will recover" [syn: promise,
hope]
v 1: make a promise or commitment [syn: promise, assure]
2: promise to undertake or give; "I promise you my best effort"
3: make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome
of an election" [syn: predict, foretell, prognosticate,
call, forebode, anticipate, promise]
4: give grounds for expectations; "The new results were
promising"; "The results promised fame and glory"