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The state of being illegitimate; illegitimacy. [Obs.] Gardiner had performed his promise to the queen of getting her illegitimation taken off. Bp. Burnet.

Deceiving, or tending of deceive; fallacious; illusive; as, illusory promises or hopes.

an employs a laborer to work for him, . . . the act of hiring implies an obligation and a promise that he shall pay him a reasonable reward for his services. Blackstone.

munity from penalty, or the punishment of past offenses; amnesty. Having first obtained a promise of indemnity for the riot they had committed. Sir W. Scott.

his time, as the affair now stands, the induction of your acquaintance. Beau. & Fl. These promises are fair, the parties sure, And our induction dull of prosperous hope. Shak.

A name given to each of three compromises made by the emperor Charles V. of Germany for the sake of harmonizing the connecting opinions of Protestants and Catholics.

Refusing compromise; uncompromising; irreconcilable. Lond. Sat. Rev.

Not capable of being broken or violated; as, an inviolable covenant, agreement, promise, or vow. Their almighty Maker first ordained And bound them with inviolable bands. Spenser. And keep our faiths firm and inviolable. Shak.

of being recalled or revoked; unchangeable; irreversible; unalterable; as, an irrevocable promise or decree; irrevocable fate. Firm and irrevocable is my doom. Shak. -- Ir*rev"o*ca*ble*ness, n. -- Ir*rev"o*ca*bly, adv.

A mask; a pageant; an interlude. [Obs.] Nares. He promised us, in honor of our guest, To grace our banquet with some pompous jest. Kyd.

or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise. -- To keep up, to remain unsubdued; also, not to be confined to one's bed.

n of special oppression. -- Land o' cakes, Scotland. -- Land of Nod, sleep. -- Land of promise, in Bible history, Canaan: by extension, a better country or condition of which one has expectation. -- Land of steady habits, a nickname sometimes given to the State of Connecticut. -- Land office, a government office i…

To draw to the lure; hence, to allure or invite by means of anything that promises pleasure or advantage; to entice; to attract. I am not lured with love. Piers Plowman. And various science lures the learned eye. Gay.

Milton. Mad wars destroy in one year the works of many years of peace. Franklin. The mad promise of Cleon was fulfilled. Jowett (Thucyd.).

; hence, figuratively, to yield or concede half of the difference in order to effect a compromise or reconciliation with.

; attentive; heedful; observant. What is man, that thou art mindful of him Ps. viii. 4. I promise you to be mindful of your admonitions. Hammond. -- Mind"ful*ly, adv. -- Mind"ful*ness, n.

Any written or stamped promise, certificate, or order, as a government note, a bank note, a certificate of deposit, etc., which is payable in standard coined money and is lawfully current in lieu of it; in a comprehensive sense, any currency usually and lawfully employed in buying and selling.

erchanged; as, a mutual love, advantage, assistance, aversion, etc. Conspiracy and mutual promise. Sir T. More. Happy in our mutual help, And mutual love. Milton. A certain shyness on such subjects, which was mutual between the sisters. G. Eliot.

That which obligates or constrains; the binding power of a promise, contract, oath, or vow, or of law; that which constitutes legal or moral duty. A tender conscience is a stronger obligation than a proson. Fuller.

One who fulfills or performs; as, an observer of his promises.