Tom had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which one should have the present.
“Who is the most obedient?” he asked. “Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?”
Five small voices answered in unison. “Okay, dad, you get the toy.”
—n. - assurance that one will or will not undertake a certain action etc. (promise of help).
- sign of future achievements, good results, etc. (writer of great promise). —v. (-sing) 1 (usu. Foll. By to + infin., or that + clause; also absol.) Make a promise (promise not to be late).
- (often foll. By to + infin.) Seem likely (to) (promises to be a good book).
- colloq. Assure (i promise you, it will not be easy). promise well (or ill etc.) Hold out good (or bad etc.) Prospects. [latin promissum from mitto miss- send]
PROMOTE
v. (-ting) 1 (often foll. By to) raise (a person) to a higher office, rank, etc. (promoted to captain).
- help forward; encourage (a cause, process, etc.).
- publicize and sell (a product).
- chess raise (a pawn) to the rank of queen etc. promotion n. Promotional adj. [latin promoveo -mot-]
PRONOUN
n. Word used instead of and to indicate a noun already mentioned or known, esp. To avoid repetition (e.g. We, their, this, ourselves). [from *pro-1, *noun]
PROPANE
n. Gaseous hydrocarbon used as bottled fuel. [propionic acid: related to *pro-2, greek pion fat]
PROPENE
n. Chem. = *propylene. [from *propane, *alkene]
PROPHET
n. (fem. Prophetess) 1 teacher or interpreter of the supposed will of god.
- a person who foretells events. B spokesman; advocate (prophet of the new order).
- (the prophet) muhammad. [greek prophetes spokesman]
PROPOSE
v. (-sing) 1 (also absol.) Put forward for consideration or as a plan; suggest.
- (usu. Foll. By to + infin., or verbal noun) intend; purpose (propose to open a cafe).
- (usu. Foll. By to) offer oneself in marriage.
- nominate (a person) as a member of a society, for an office, etc. propose a toast (or somebody's health) ask people to drink to someone's health. proposer n. [latin pono posit- place]
PROSAIC
adj. - like prose, lacking poetic beauty.
- unromantic; dull; commonplace. prosaically adv. [latin: related to *prose]
PROSODY
n. - science of versification.
- the study of speech-rhythms. prosodic adj. Prosodist n. [greek pros to: related to *ode]
