Commitments

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kəˈmɪtmənts/

Definitions

1. Pledges or vows to engage in specific duties or responsibilities are considered
2. Promises made to oneself or others to fulfill particular tasks or obligations are known
3. Engagements or obligations undertaken to fulfill specific tasks or responsibilities are referred to

Etymology: "Commitments" is the plural of "commitment," which is built from the verb "commit" plus the suffix "-ment." That suffix, borrowed through Old French from Latin "-mentum," turns a verb into a noun naming the act or result of the verb, as in "judgment" or "settlement." Commitment therefore denotes the act of committing, and the plural names the individual pledges or obligations that result from such acts. The verb "commit" itself comes from Latin "committere," meaning to bring together, join, or entrust, from "com-" (together) and "mittere" (to send). Its older senses were concrete, such as sending someone to prison or consigning goods to a place, and the sense of binding oneself to a course of action grew out of the idea of entrusting oneself to something. The plural form thus carries that sense of many separate acts of entrusting one's word or resources to the future.

Synonyms: obligations, responsibilities, engagements

Antonyms: disengagements, freedom