Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “impromptu” come from?

impromptu (French) comes from Latin in promptu, from Latin promptu, from Latin promptus, from Latin promo, from Latin pro-, from Latin pro, from Proto-Indo-European pro-, from Proto-Indo-European por- — passed , crossed.

impromptu (French): improvised, not planned; improvised action;...

Definitions

  1. improvised, not planned; improvised action;...

Ancestry of “impromptu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinin promptuready, at hand
2Latinpromptuablative singular of prōmptus; readiness
3Latinpromptusa taking forth; produced; manifest, disclosed
4LatinpromoI take or bring out or forth, produce, bring to...
5Latinpro-forward direction, forward movement; action...
6Latinpro+ "ablative"; for; on behalf of, in the interest...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
9Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “impromptu”

  • impromptu
  • impromptu
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →