prompt

English

Etymology

From Middle French prompt, from Latin promptus (“visible, apparent, evident, at hand, prepated, ready, quick, prompt, inclined, disposed”), past participle of promere (“to take or bring out or forth, produce, bring to light”), from pro (“forth, forward”) + emere (“to take, acquire, buy”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

prompt (comparative more prompt, superlative most prompt)

  1. (archaic) Ready, willing (to act).
    • 1623, William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra, III.8:
      Tell him, I am prompt To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
  2. Quick, acting without delay.
    He was very prompt at getting a new job.
  3. On time, punctual.
    Be prompt for your appointment.

Derived terms

Translations

quick
on time

Noun

prompt (plural prompts)

  1. A reminder or cue.
  2. (business, dated) A time limit given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods.
    • John Stuart Mill
      To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt, which for this article [tea] is three months.
  3. (computing) A symbol that appears on a monitor to indicate that the computer is ready to receive input.
    I filled in my name where the prompt appeared on the computer screen but my account wasn't recognized.
  4. (writing) A suggestion for inspiration given to an author.

Translations

a reminder or cue
a computer prompt

Verb

prompt (third-person singular simple present prompts, present participle prompting, simple past and past participle prompted)

  1. To lead someone toward what they should say or do.
    I prompted him to get a new job.
    • 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, BBC:
      The only sour note on a virtually perfect night for England came from shameful 'monkey' chanting aimed at Ashley Cole and Ashley Young from a section of Bulgaria's fans which later prompted an official complaint from the Football Association to Uefa.
  2. (theater and television) - to show or tell an actor/person the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing.
    If he forgets his words I will prompt him.

Synonyms

Translations

to lead someone toward what they should say or do
to show or tell an actor/person the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing

External links

See also

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French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin promptus.

Pronunciation

Adjective

prompt m (feminine prompte, masculine plural prompts, feminine plural promptes)

  1. prompt, swift, quick
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Jèrriais

Etymology

From Latin prōmptus, past participle of prōmō, prōmere (“take, bring out, produce, bring to light”).

Adjective

prompt m (feminine prompte, masculine plural prompts, feminine plural promptes)

  1. hasty
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Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

Etymology

From French, from Latin derived from promere (“bring out”)

Adverb

prompt

  1. quickly and punctually; promptly

Adjective

prompt (masculine prompt; feminine prompt; neuter prompt; plural prompt; comparative mer prompt; superlative mest prompt)

  1. quick and punctual; prompt

References

  • “prompt” in The Bokmål Dictionary – Dokumentasjonsprosjektet.
  • “prompt” in The Ordnett Dictionary
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Last modified on 20 May 2013, at 19:44