different between desirable vs promising

English

Etymology

From Old French desirable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??za????b?l/, [d??za?(j)???b??]

Adjective

desirable (comparative more desirable, superlative most desirable)

1. Worthy to be desired; pleasing; agreeable.

Antonyms

• undesirable

Derived terms

• desirability
• desirableness

Translations

Noun

desirable (plural desirables)

1. A thing that people want; something that is desirable.

   There are plenty of desirables on display in the window.

Anagrams

• barleeids, bride-ales, derisable, rideables

Middle French

Adjective

desirable m or f (plural desirables)

1. desirable

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??m?s??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??m?s??/
• Hyphenation: prom?is?ing

Adjective

promising (comparative more promising, superlative most promising)

1. Showing promise, and likely to develop in a desirable fashion.

   a promising young apprentice

2. Encouraging and inspiring confidence.

Translations

Verb

promising

1. present participle of promise

Noun

promising (plural promisings)

1. The act of making a promise.
   • 1992, Judith Jarvis Thomson, The Realm of Rights (page 299)

     So it cannot be supposed that promisings differ from other word-givings in that a word-giver makes a promise only if he or she uses the locution "I promise".