breach of promise

Breach of promise — Breach Breach (br[=e]ch), n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. br[ae]k, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See {Break}, and cf. {Brake} (the instrument), {Brack} a break] . 1. The act of breaking …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

breach of promise — index dishonor (nonpayment), disloyalty, infidelity, infraction, nonperformance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 20 …   Law dictionary

Breach of promise — is a former common law tort. From at least medieval times until the early 20th century, a man s promise of engagement to marry a woman was considered, in many jurisdictions, a legally binding contract. If the man were to subsequently change his… …   Wikipedia

breach of promise — n. a breaking of a promise, esp. a promise to marry …   English World dictionary

breach of promise — ► breach of promise the breaking of a sworn assurance. Main Entry: ↑breach …   English terms dictionary

breach of promise — noun failure to keep a promise (of marriage) • Hypernyms: ↑breach of contract * * * : violation of one s plighted word, especially of a promise to marry * * * Law. a violation of one s promise, esp. of a promise to marry a specific person. [1580… …   Useful english dictionary

breach of promise — Literally the failure to perform a promise, but known to the law and also to laymen as breach of promise of marriage. 12 Am J2d Breach P § 1 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

breach of promise — breach′ of prom′ise n. Law. law a violation of one s promise, esp. the promise of a man to marry a specific woman • Etymology: 1580–90 …   From formal English to slang

breach of promise — Synonyms and related words: Punic faith, bad faith, barratry, breach, breach of contract, breach of faith, breach of privilege, breach of trust, breaking, contravention, dereliction, disaffection, disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity,… …   Moby Thesaurus

breach of promise — Law. a violation of one s promise, esp. of a promise to marry a specific person. [1580 90] * * * …   Universalium

breach of promise — breaking of a promise, failure to keep a promise …   English contemporary dictionary