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prompt (v.)

mid-14c., prompten, from Latin promptus, past participle of promere "to bring forth," from pro "forward" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward") + emere "to take" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute"). Theatrical sense of "to assist a speaker with lines" is first recorded early 15c. Related: Prompted; prompting.

prompt (n.)

early 15c., "readiness," from Latin promptus (see prompt (v.)). Meaning "hint, act of prompting" is from 1590s. Computer sense attested by 1977.

prompt (adj.)

early 15c., from Old French prompt and directly from Latin promptus "brought forth," hence "visible, apparent, evident," past participle of promere "to take or bring out or forth" (see prompt (v.)).Related: Promptly; promptitude.

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Definitions of prompt from WordNet
1
prompt (v.)
give an incentive for action;
Synonyms: motivate / actuate / propel / move / incite
prompt (v.)
serve as the inciting cause of;
She prompted me to call my relatives
Synonyms: inspire / instigate
prompt (v.)
assist (somebody acting or reciting) by suggesting the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned;
Synonyms: remind / cue
2
prompt (adj.)
according to schedule or without delay; on time;
the train is prompt
prompt (adj.)
ready and willing or quick to act;
she is always prompt to help her friends
prompt (adj.)
performed with little or no delay;
a prompt reply
Synonyms: immediate / quick / straightaway
3
prompt (n.)
a cue given to a performer (usually the beginning of the next line to be spoken);
the audience could hear his prompting
Synonyms: prompting
prompt (n.)
(computer science) a symbol that appears on the computer screen to indicate that the computer is ready to receive a command;
Synonyms: command prompt
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near prompt

promontory

promote

promoter

promotion

promotional

prompt

prompter

promptness

promulgate

promulgation

pronate

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