• Ask a Legal Question
  • Submit Article
  • Law Dictionary
  • My Account
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Support
  • Site Search
Login or Sign up

The Law Dictionary

  • Home
  • Law Forum
  • Law Guide
  • Law Journal
  • Lawyers
  • Legal Forms & Files
  • Inbox
  • Alerts
Home » Law Dictionary » P » PROMISE

PROMISE

TheLaw.com Law Dictionary & Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed.

contr. An engagement by which the promisor contracts towards another to perform or do something to the advantage of the latter. 2. When a promise is reduced to the form of a written agreement under seal, it is called a covenant. 3. In order to be binding on the promisor, the promise must be made upon a sufficient consideration when made without consideration, however, it may be binding in foro conscientice, it is not obligatory in law, being nudtim pactum. 4. When a promise is made, all that is said at the time, in relation to it, must be considered; if, therefore, a man promise to pay all he owes, accompanied by a denial that he owes anything, no action will lie to enforce such a promise. 15 Wend. 187. 5. And when the promise is conditional, the condition must be performed before it becomes of binding force.

Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition

A declaration, verbal or written, made by one person to another for a good or valuable consideration in the nature of a covenant by which the promisor binds himself to do or forbear some act, and gives to the promisee a legal right to demand and enforce a fulfillment. “Promise” is to be distinguished, on the one hand, from a mere declaration of intention involving no engagement or assurance as to the future; and, on the other, from “agreement,” which is an obligation arising upon reciprocal promises, or upon a promise founded on a consideration. Abbott.”Fictitious promises,” sometimes called “implied promises,” or “promises implied in law,” occur in the case of those contracts which were Invented to enable persons in certain cases to take advantage of the old rules of pleading peculiar to contracts, and which are not now of practical Importance. Sweet. Mutual promises. Promises simultaneously made by and between two parties; each being the consideration for the other. Naked promise. One given without any consideration, equivalent, or reciprocal obligation, and for that reason not enforceable at law. See Arend v. Smith, 151 N. Y. 502, 45 N. E. 872. New promise. An undertaking or promise, based upon and having relation to a former promise which, for some reason, can no longer be enforced, whereby the promisor recognizes and revives such former promise and engages to fulfill it. Parol promise. A simple contract; a verbal promise. 2 Steph. Comm. 109. Promise of marriage. A contract mutually entered into by a man and a woman that they will marry each other.

Related Posts:

  • PROMISOR
  • CONSIDERATION
  • NEW PROMISE
  • NUDUM PACTUM
  • PROMISSORY NOTE
  • CONTRACT

Filed Under: P

Add a New Legal Term

Can't find the legal word, term, phrase or abbreviation that you're seeking in our dictionary? Add or request a definition by filling out the short form below!

Add Dictionary Term
Sending

Law Dictionary & Guide App

Law App

Law App

Pro Law App

Pro Law App


  Over 2,000 Five Star Ratings

  •   Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed.
  •   Free: 14,000+ legal terms, Pro: 23,000+
  •   Law Guide & Law Journal
  •   Ask Questions & Get Answers
  •   Law Library & Lawyer Directory
  • Free Attorney Case Review

    Free legal consultation with a lawyer

    • About
    • FAQ
    • Contact
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy
    • Legal Terms
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • © 1995 – 2016 TheLaw.com LLC
    Legal Disclaimer: The content appearing on our website is for general information purposes only. When you submit a question or make a comment on our site or in our law forum, you clearly imply that you are interested in receiving answers, opinions and responses from other people. The people providing legal help and who respond are volunteers who may not be lawyers, legal professionals or have any legal training or experience. The law is also subject to change from time to time and legal statutes and regulations vary between states. It is possible that the law may not apply to you and may have changed from the time a post was made. All information available on our site is available on an "AS-IS" basis. It is not a substitute for professional legal assistance. Before making any decision or accepting any legal advice, you should have a proper legal consultation with a licensed attorney with whom you have an attorney-client privilege. For purposes of New York and New Jersey State ethics rules, please take notice that this website and its case reviews may constitute attorney advertising.
    © Copyright 1995 - 2015 TheLaw.com LLC. All Rights Reserved
    Go to mobile version