Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PROM'IS-SO-RY, a.

1. Containing a promise or binding declaration of something to be done or forborne. Arbuthnot.
2. In law, a promissory note is a writing which contains a promise of the payment of money or the delivery of property to another, at or before a time specified, in consideration of value received by the promiser. In England, promissory notes and bills of exchange, being negotiable for the payment of a less sum than twenty shillings, are declared to be void by Stat. 15 Geo. III. – Blackstone.