promissio

Promissio is a Latin noun meaning “a promise” or “a pledge.” It is formed from the verb promitto (to promise) and the common noun ending -io, and it can refer to the act of promising, the thing promised, or an ensuing obligation.

In classical Latin, promissio denotes an undertaking or assurance given by one party to another, and it can be used in moral, social, or legal contexts. The term appears in rhetorical and legal writings to indicate a binding commitment, whether informal or formal.

In the Roman legal tradition, promissio is encountered in discussions of obligations and contract-forming forms alongside other devices such as stipulatio. The precise status of a promissio—whether it constitutes a standalone obligation or supports obligations under broader contractual schemes—varied over time and among jurists. As with many Latin legal concepts, the term was adapted by later medieval and early modern scholars and remained a point of reference in studies of obligation law.

In modern scholarship, promissio is primarily of historical and linguistic interest. It serves as a key Latin term for discussions of promise, contractual undertakings, and the development of legal concepts related to binding commitments. The word also informs the etymology of related terms in Romance languages and is cited in discussions of Latin legal and theological vocabulary.