Prompt

Part of speech: verb, adjective, noun

Pronunciation: /pɹɒmpt/

Definitions

  1. A cue or reminder that helps someone speak or act ; to encourage a person to take a particular action ; quick to respond, or punctual in timing ; a message on a screen asking the user for input
  2. Something that jogs memory or gives an actor a line ; to spur someone toward doing a task ; ready and swift in acting, or arriving exactly on time ; a line of text on a computer screen requesting input
  3. A hint or signal that helps a person recall words or actions ; to move someone to act or respond ; being immediate and on time in responding ; the on-screen request that waits for a user's command

Etymology: This term entered English in the late Middle Ages, first appearing as an adjective and noun before developing its verbal use. Its earliest senses clustered around the idea of readiness or quickness — someone who was "prompt" was quick to act or react, and to "prompt" was to incite or move someone to action. The word’s journey into English began with Old French "prompt", itself borrowed from Latin "promptus", meaning "brought forth" or "ready". Digging deeper, the Latin "promptus" is the past participle of "promere", meaning "to bring forth" or "to produce", formed from the prefix "pro-" ("forward") and "emere" ("to take"). Originally, then, the term had the literal sense of something taken out and brought into view, which over time shifted to more abstract meanings of being ready or prepared to act. The transition from the physical act of bringing forth to the mental state of readiness is a hallmark of how Latin-derived words evolved in English. By the 15th century, the adjective and noun uses of the word were established, describing both people who acted without delay and the act of providing a cue or reminder. The verb sense, "to prompt" (as in giving a cue to an actor), is first recorded in the 17th century and likely arose from theatrical practice, where a prompter would help actors recall their lines. Thus, what began as a word for physical readiness or bringing something to light now encompasses the act of encouraging, cueing, or reminding, especially in performance or conversation.

Synonyms: encourage, urge, stimulate, inspire, provoke

Antonyms: deter, discourage