Definition
A promise; a commitment you make to someone that you will do something.
Example
Il a tenu sa promesse et est revenu.
Show translation
He kept his promise and came back.
Etymology
From Old French *promesse*, derived from Latin *promissa*, the feminine past participle of *promittere* ("to send forth, promise"), itself from *pro-* ("forward") + *mittere* ("to send"). The same Latin root gives English "promise" directly.
Cultural note
The French phrase *tenir sa promesse* ("to keep one's promise") is far more common than the calque *garder sa promesse* — a classic false-friend trap for English speakers who reach for *garder* (to keep/guard). Also note the rich French idiom *une promesse en l'air* ("an empty promise," literally "a promise in the air"), used to dismiss hollow commitments.