Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “promptness” come from?

Promptness derives from English prompt, from French prompt, from Latin promptus meaning "brought forth," from Latin promere meaning "to bring forth," combining Latin pro meaning "forward" with Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- meaning "to grow or swell."

promptness (English): The habit or characteristic of doing things...

Definitions

  1. The habit or characteristic of doing things...

Ancestry of “promptness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpromptQuick; acting without delay; On time; punctual;...
2Middle Frenchprompt—
3Latinprōmptus—
4Latinprōmō—
5Latinprō—
6Latinratusconsidered, having been considered; established,...
7Latinrēōr—
8Proto-Italicrēōrto reckon, to calculate; to think, to deem, to...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂reh₁-to think, reason; to arrange
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂er-to fit, to fix, to put together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- →