Hypertext Webster Gateway: "impromptu"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Impromptu \Im*promp"tu\, adv. or a. [F. impromptu, fr. L. in
promptu in readiness, at hand; in in + promptus visibility,
readiness, from promptus visible, ready. See {Prompt}.]
Offhand; without previous study; extemporaneous; extempore;
as, an impromptu verse.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Impromptu \Im*promp"tu\, n.
1. Something made or done offhand, at the moment, or without
previous study; an extemporaneous composition, address, or
remark.
2. (Mus.) A piece composed or played at first thought; a
composition in the style of an extempore piece.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
impromptu
adj : in response to an unforeseen need; "an impromptu speech"; "a
spur-of-the-moment party" [syn: {spur-of-the-moment}]
n 1: an extemporaneous speech or remark; "a witty impromptu must
not sound premeditated"
2: a short musical passage that seems to have been made
spontaneously without advance preparation
adv : without advance preparation; "he spoke ad lib" [syn: {ad lib},
{ad libitum}, {spontaneously}]
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