Where does “impromptu” come from?
Impromptu comes from French impromptu, from Latin in promptu meaning "in readiness," combining in with promptu, the supine of promere meaning "to bring forth," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-.
impromptu (English): Improvised; without prior preparation, planning...
Definitions
- Improvised; without prior preparation, planning...
Ancestry of “impromptu”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | impromptu | improvised, not planned; improvised action;... |
| 2 | Latin | in promptu | ready, at hand |
| 3 | Latin | promptu | ablative singular of prōmptus; readiness |
| 4 | Latin | promptus | a taking forth; produced; manifest, disclosed |
| 5 | Latin | promo | I take or bring out or forth, produce, bring to... |
| 6 | Latin | pro- | forward direction, forward movement; action... |
| 7 | Latin | pro | + "ablative"; for; on behalf of, in the interest... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |