- promote (v.)
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- late 14c., "to advance (someone) to a higher grade or office," from Old French promoter and directly from Latin promotus, past participle of promovere "move forward, advance; cause to advance, push onward; bring to light, reveal," from pro- "forward" (see pro-) + movere "to move" (see move (v.)). General sense of "to further the growth or progress of (anything)" is from 1510s. Related: Promoted; promoting.