Where does “extemporaneous” come from?
Extemporaneous derives from Latin extemporaneus, formed from the prefix ex- meaning "out of" and a root related to Proto-Indo-European temp- meaning "to stretch or extend."
extemporaneous (English): Without preparation or advanced thought; offhand
Definitions
- Without preparation or advanced thought; offhand
Ancestry of “extemporaneous”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | extemporāneus | unpremeditated |
| 2 | Latin | -āneus | forming adjectives Of or pertaining to; -aneous |
| 3 | Latin | -eus | argentum + API → argenteus; ferrum + API →... |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | *-eos | Forms adjectives indicating being formed out of a material |