prompt

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   ready and willing or quick to act

   We are always prompt to help our friends.

2. 2
   noun

   a cue given to a performer, usually consisting of the beginning of the next line to be spoken

   The forgetful performer was given a prompt by the director.

3. 3
   verb

   serve as the inciting cause of

   They prompted me to call my relatives.

4. 4
   adj

   Quick; acting without delay.

   He was very prompt at getting a new job.

5. 5
   adj

   On time; punctual.

   Be prompt for your appointment.

6. 6
   adj

   Ready; willing to act.

   Tell him, I am prompt / To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.

7. 7
   adj

   Front: closest or nearest, in futures trading.

   When physical crude oil transactions are priced, they are usually marked to the prompt month futures contract. The prompt month futures contract is the next futures contract to settle.

8. 8
   noun

   A time limit given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods.

   To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt, which for this article [tea] is three months.

Etymology

The adjective is from Middle English prompte, from Middle French prompt and its etymon Latin prōmptus (“visible, apparent, evident”), past participle of prōmō (“to take or bring out or forth, produce, bring to light”), from prō (“forth, forward”) + emō (“to take, acquire, buy”). Doublet of pronto. The verb is from Middle English prompen, apparently from the adjective. The noun is from the verb.