pollicitation

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A promise; a voluntary engagement; also, a paper containing such an engagement.
2. n. In civil law, a promise without mutuality; a promise not yet accepted by the person to whom it is made. As a general rnle, such a promise could be revoked at any time before it was accepted, but a vow made in favor of a public or religious object was irrevocable from the moment it was made. This principle has been reaffirmed by the canon law. In some cases the promiser could be released from the effect of his vow by paying a fifth part of his property.

Wiktionary

1. n. A voluntary engagement, or a paper containing it; a promise.
2. n. Roman law A promise without mutuality; a promise which has not been accepted by the person to whom it is made.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A voluntary engagement, or a paper containing it; a promise.
2. n. (Roman Law) A promise without mutuality; a promise which has not been accepted by the person to whom it is made.