| 释义 |
▪ I. prompt, n.|prɒm(p)t|
[In branch I. ad. L. promptus readiness, f. ppl. stem of prōm-ĕre (see next); in II. f. prompt v.; in III. f. prompt a.]
I.
†1. Readiness; preparedness. in prompt (= L. in promptu), in readiness. Obs. rare.
c1425Found. St. Bartholomew's (E.E.T.S.) 34 He hadde yt in prompte what sumeuer he wolde vttir to speke yt metyrly.
II.
2. a. An act of prompting; instigation; something said or suggested to incite to action, or to help the memory. Cf. prompt v. 2.
1597J. Payne Royal Exch. 27 Common dronckards and carnall lyvers..esteme themeselves as honest and as truly religiouse as the best, and bothe by a subtill prompt of the divill. 1721Cibber Com. Lovers v, You won't forget..to give me a Prompt upon occasion. 1881M. A. Lewis Two Pretty G. III. 12 She..was glad to accept a prompt from her neighbour.
b. spec. in Theat. The act of the prompter on the stage. Chiefly in Comb., as prompt-bell, the bell used by a prompter in a theatre to summon an actor; prompt-box, the prompter's box on a stage; prompt-centre, the position on a stage half-way between the centre and the prompt-side; prompt-copy = prompt-book; prompt corner, the prompter's corner off-stage; prompt entrance (see quot. 1952); prompt script = prompt-book; prompt-side, the side of the stage where the prompter takes up his position, usu. on the actor's left (U.S., on the right); prompt table, the table on which the prompter rests his book; prompt-word, a word spoken by a prompter (in quot. transf.).
1784New Spectator No. 6. 7 Then recommences the music of the iritated Gods..after that comes the tinkling of the *prompt bell.
1859Sala Tw. round Clock (1861) 263, I happened to be almost born in a *prompt-box and weaned in a scene-painter's size-kettle. 1891Pall Mall G. 30 Sept. 3/1 The prompt-box was placed in the centre of the stage; but, owing to there being no floor below the stage, our prompter..had to raise a trap-door in the stage, and to crawl along, on hands and knees.
1884Halliwell-Phillipps in Athenæum 25 Oct. 529/2 An old *prompt copy may have wandered out of England.
1933P. Godfrey Back-Stage i. 17 A good stage-manager is never far from the *prompt corner. 1967Listener 21 Sept. 370/3 When the moment came, I was standing in the prompt corner with..the stage-director.
1886M. Mackintosh Stage Reminisc. ii. 25 It would give him a better chance with the audience to sing it from the ‘*prompt’ entrance. 1890B. Hall Turnover Club xx. 187 One evening he was standing in the ‘prompt entrance’ with a prominent actress who was starring at the house then. 1952Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 143 Prompt entrance, that way on to the stage from the prompt corner which is for the use of the stage management.
1920Wodehouse Jill the Reckless (1922) xiv. 210 The assistant stage-director bent sedulously over the footlights..shading his eyes with the *prompt script.
1824R. Humphreys Mem. J. Decastro 30 A thunder-drum, which now stands on the *prompt side of the theatre. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. xxiii, Nicholas found himself close to the first entrance on the prompt side. 1898Daily Chron. 11 Oct. 3/4 On the prompt side some picturesque little bazaars are being fitted up. 1963C. Mackenzie My Life & Times I. 90 The next thing I remember is sitting on my nurse's knee in the front of the dress circle of the Cork Opera House on the right-hand side, or as an actor would say, on the prompt side.
1844J. Cowell Thirty Years passed among Players ii. ii. 59/2 Every book or manuscript they have an opportunity to place upon a *prompt-table. 1967Listener 21 Sept. 369/2 He caught sight of Trebel..lurking by the prompt table.
1918A. Quiller-Couch Foe-Farrell 176, I knew..that I must break his fate to him. I even gave him the *prompt-word. ‘Homelike’, I suggested.
c. Computing. A request or message given by a computer in use, requiring or helping the user to respond.
1977in A. Chandor et al. Dict. Computers (ed. 2) 330. 1984 Personal Software Winter 53/1 A prompt appears asking for the mode in which the picture is to be drawn. 1985Which Computer? Apr. 51/2 Prompts and help messages reduce the possibility of making an error in the first place.
III. 3. Commerce. a. (ellipt. for prompt date, day, time.) A trade term for a limit of time given for payment of the account for produce purchased; the limit (varying with different goods) being stated on a note of reminder called a prompt-note; hence = due-date.
1755N. Magens Insurances I. 348 This 1 per Cent., which was left out on account of the different Prompts for Payment, must either be deducted on none or both the Accounts. 1848Mill Pol. Econ. II. 64 The speculation went on at advancing prices..till nearly the expiration of the prompt. 1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, Prompt-note, a note of reminder of the day of payment and sum due, etc., given to a purchaser at a sale of produce. 1890Pall Mall G. 24 Nov. 7/3 In goods like tea, where the prompt, or time allowed before the goods are taken up, is long, a deposit of something like one-third of the value has to be made at the time of purchase... In most..leading goods the prompt is short. Mod. If you offered me corn at so much, I might reply ‘At what prompt?’ or ‘What is the prompt?’
b. See quot.
1882Bithell Counting-ho. Dict. (1893) 245 Prompt... In commerce, the setting forth in a written document the record of a bargain or sale, in such a form as to render it negotiable... A prompt is an agreement between a shipper or importer on the one hand, and a merchant on the other; in which the former engages to sell certain specified goods at a given price, and the latter to take them up and pay for them at a specified date... It implies..that the goods shall be ‘promptly’ paid for on delivery, if delivered before the specified date, and at the specified date, whether they are delivered or not.
c. ellipt. for prompt goods (see prompt a. 3): Goods sold under an agreement as to a prompt or time-limit.
▪ II. prompt, a. (adv.)|prɒm(p)t|
[a. F. prompt (1219 in Godef. Compl.), or ad. L. prompt-us brought forth, brought to light, manifest; at hand, ready, quick, prepared, disposed, inclined; pa. pple. of prōm-ĕre to bring forth or out, produce, bring to light, f. prō, pro-1 1 a + em-ĕre to take, to buy.]
A. adj.
1. a. Ready in action; quick to act when occasion arises; acting with alacrity; ready and willing.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 61 A man of lawe bloode of Briteyne, Carausius by name, but prompte in cownsel [L. consilio et manu promptus]. 1494Fabyan Chron. v. cxvi. 91 She that was prompte & redy to all euyll, cast in her mynde that this chylde was slayne by poyson. 1549Compl. Scot. Prol. 12 Thai ar mair prompt to repreif ane smal ignorant falt, nor to commende ane grit verteous act. 1555Eden Decades 58 A man of prompt wytte. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iii. xiii. 75 Tell him, I am prompt To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele. 1728Pope Dunc. ii. 381 Three pert Templars came..Each prompt to query, answer, and debate. 1808Scott Marm. vi. xvi, A matchless horse, though something old, Prompt to his paces, cool and bold. 1851Carlyle Sterling i. i. (1872) 5 The promptest and least hesitating of men. 1870Burton Hist. Scot. (1873) VI. lxxii. 290 The friend who had ever been prompt in the time of peril.
fig.1525Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cxxxiii. [cxxix.] 373 Thus they went saylyng by the see fresshly..the see was so prompe and so agreeable to them.
†b. Ready in mind; inclined, disposed. rare.
1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. iv. 90, I cannot sing..Nor play at subtill games; faire vertues all; To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant.
†c. Hasty, forward, abrupt, blunt. Obs. rare.
1768Sterne Sent. Journ. (1775) I. 35 A prompt French marquis, at our ambassador's table, demanded of Mr. H―, if he was H― the poet? No, said H― mildly — Tant pis, replied the Marquis.
2. a. Of action, speech, etc.: Characterized by readiness or quickness; done, performed, etc. at once, at the moment, or on the spot.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 234 Contemplacyon is a free & a prompte or redy syght of the eye of the mynde. 1542(title) Apophthegmes, that is to saie, prompte, quicke, wittie and sentencious saiynges, of certain Emperours, Kynges,..Philosophiers and Oratours,..compiled in Latine by..Maister Erasmus..And now translated into Englyshe by Nicolas Udall. 1624Wotton Archit. in Reliq. (1651) 260 The reception of Light into the Body of the building, was very prompt. 1667Milton P.L. v. 149 Such prompt eloquence Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse. 1706Phillips, Prompt Payment, a present paying of Money, a Term in Merchandize. 1766W. Gordon Gen. Counting-ho. 371 His creditor..demands prompt payment in cash..in ready money. 1791Boswell Johnson Advt., The stretch of mind and prompt assiduity. 1834Macaulay Ess., Pitt (1887) 322 Those qualities which enable men to form prompt and judicious decisions. 1877W. S. Gilbert Sorcerer i, We deduct 10 per cent for prompt cash.
†b. transf. Suddenly emergent; demanding instant action. Obs. rare.
1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 157 Very apt in prompt occasions, to demonstrate valour and resolution.
3. Commerce. For immediate delivery (and payment); also, due at once, or at the date fixed. Cf. prompt n. 3.
1879Expression in London Tea-trade, When are the overland teas prompt? [The regular word for due in reference to the proceeds of sales of tea and other merchandise.] 1883Daily News 25 Sept. 2/7 Beetroot—Old crop, 89½ per cent., sold prompt at 20s. 7½d. 1884St. James's Gaz. 28 Apr. 7/2 Rates for prompt boats are not well maintained. 1888Daily News 24 Dec. 2/6 The prompt figure for No. 3 [pig iron] has been 33s. 6d.; 34s. to 34s. 3d. is quoted January to March. 1894Ibid. 31 Dec. 2/6 There have been a few odd prompt lots sold at 35s. No 3. 1898Ibid. 16 May 8/6 Sometimes 40s. 7½d. will be taken for prompt iron by merchants.
4. Nucl. Physics. Of a neutron or gamma ray: emitted within a small fraction of a second as the direct result of a fission, as distinct from radiation due to the decay of fission products.
1947M. Deutsch in C. Goodman Sci. & Engin. of Nucl. Power I. ii. 84 The average total kinetic energy of the two fission fragments from U236 is about 160 Mev. In addition, the prompt neutrons have kinetic energies totaling about 5 Mev. If the energy of excitation of the fission fragment immediately after its formation is insufficient to cause neutron emission, the nucleus may lose energy by the emission of prompt gamma rays. 1950[see delayed neutron]. 1962H. D. Bush Atomic & Nuclear Physics vii. 140 ‘Prompt’ γ-rays are also observed due to the excitation of the primary fission products. 1973Physical Rev. VII. C. 1180/1 In Table 1 the energy emitted per fission event in the form of prompt-γ radiation and the number of γ rays per fission are given for a number of energy intervals above 0·14 MeV. 1974S. E. Hunt Fission, Fusion & Energy Crisis vi. 53 Reactors are operated so that if they relied on the neutrons emitted instantaneously on fission, on so-called ‘prompt’ neutrons, alone, the fission chain reaction would be subcritical, i.e. the reaction would die away.
B. as adv.
a. Promptly, to the minute or the fixed time; sharp.
Mod. She must be called prompt at seven o'clock.
b. Promptly; soon.
1910W. M. Raine Bucky O'Connor ii. 23 The reverend gentleman..had this diverting experience so prompt after he was wishing for it.
C. Comb. of adj., as prompt-witted; of adv. as prompt-paying (that pays promptly); prompt-critical a. Nucl. Physics, critical even when the effect of delayed neutrons is neglected and prompt neutrons alone are considered; hence prompt-criticality.
1954R. Stephenson Introd. Nucl. Engin. ii. 64 When the k for a U235 reactor is exactly equal to 1·0073, there is sufficient reactivity to maintain the chain reaction by means of the prompt neutrons alone, and the reactor is said to be prompt critical. 1956S. Glasstone Princ. Nucl. Reactor Engin. iv. 242 The rapid increase in the flux when the reactivity exceeds the prompt-critical value would make the reactor difficult to control, and special precautions must be taken that this condition does not arise in reactor operation. 1973D. R. Inglis Nucl. Energy IV. 120 Plutonium has only about one-third as many delayed neutrons as does uranium (about 0·23 percent of neutrons are delayed), and this provides only a narrow margin for adjustments below a prompt critical condition.
1954R. Stephenson Introd. Nucl. Engin. vii. 269 This is the condition for prompt criticality. 1974S. E. Hunt Fission, Fusion & Energy Crisis vi. 53 Prompt criticality would be even more serious in a fast reactor of the Dounreay type than in the more usual thermal neutron reactors, since the neutrons do not need to be slowed down between one generation of fissions and the next.
1899Daily News 6 June 8/6 Good, prompt-paying, established tenants.
1594Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits viii. (1596) 112 None, who is prompt-witted, can learne to read without stumbling.
▪ III. prompt, v.|prɒm(p)t|
Also 4–5 promtt, 5–6 promp, 6 prompte, 6–7 promt. pa. pple. prompted, rarely in 7 prompt.
[f. prec. adj. or its F. or L. original, in sense ‘to make prompt or ready to do something’.
The genesis of the verb is not clear; the first example (if certain) is earlier than any known instance of the use of the adj. in Eng., and suggests the prior use of a med.L. *promptāre or F. *prompter = It. prontare, to make ready, to prompt; of this in Fr. or med.L. no example has been found, but its agent-n. promptātor occurs in Promp. Parv.: see prompter 1.]
1. trans. To incite to action; to move or instigate (a person, etc.) to do, or to something.
a1340Hampole Psalter xxxiv. 7 Þe deuel foluand & promttand. c1440Promp. Parv. 415/1 Promptyn, promo, incenso, insumo. c1440Alphabet of Tales 444 Anoder was with the at þou saw nott, þat stude evur and prompyd the to wurk besylie. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. ii. 80 By whose direction found'st thou out this place?.. By Loue that first did promp me to enquire. 1607― Timon ii. ii. 150 When I haue Prompted you in the ebbe of your estate, And your great flow of debts. 1657S. Purchas Pol. Flying-Ins. 12 A hot Sun-shine or warmer aire (even in Winter) will quickly prompt them out of their Hives. 1673O. Walker Educ. (1677) 90 Defer what your passion promts you to do. 1745De Foe's Eng. Tradesman vi. (1841) I. 36 Their pride prompting them to put it to the utmost trial. 1837Disraeli Venetia ii. i, A mysterious instinct prompted her.
b. absol.
1830S. Rogers Italy, Meillerie 62 Records of the past That prompt to hero-worship. 1855Bain Senses & Int. ii. ii. §3 (1864) 124 When two feelings prompt in opposite ways, the one that determines the conduct is said to be volitionally the stronger. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. xiii. 133 They migrate in numbers as their necessities prompt.
2. trans. To assist (a speaker when at a loss) by suggesting something to be said, or (a reciter) by supplying the words that come next. Used esp. of thus helping a pupil in his recitation, or an actor in speaking his part. (Cf. prompt n. 2 b.)
1428Surtees Misc. (1888) 5 John Lyllyng come unto hym and promped hym, and bad hym say [etc.]. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 241 Yt euery such suter..should knowe to salute & cal euery citezen by his name without the helpe of any byddelle to prompe hym. a1568R. Ascham Scholem. (Arb.) 89 Let him translate it into Latin againe, abiding in soch place, where no other scholer may prompe him. 1679Establ. Test 8 To stand behind the Scene, and prompt both Parties, to Act the bloody Tragedy. 1778R. Lowth Transl. Isaiah xxx. 21 Thine ears shall hear the word prompting thee behind. 1874Burnand My Time viii. 69 It was like being prompted in an examination, and being unable to catch the word.
†b. To remind, put (one) in mind. Obs.
1599Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 306 All prompting mee how faire yong Hero is.
3. To urge, suggest, or dictate (a thing); to inspire, give rise to (thought, action).
1602Warner Alb. Eng. xiii. lxxviii. (1612) 323 That be not Two or diuers Gods is also prompt by this. 1610Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 420 It goes on I see As my soule prompts it. 1624Quarles Sion's Elegies xvii. Div. Poems (1717) 382 She prompteth how to break New languages. 1673Vain Insolency of Rome 15, I shall not repent that I prompt these intimations unto you. 1717Pope Eloisa 216 Whisp'ring Angels prompt her golden dreams. 1722De Foe Plague (1756) 222 To prompt due Impressions of the Awe of God on the Minds of Men. 1810Scott Lady of L. ii. i, 'Tis morning prompts the linnet's blithest lay. 1873Black Pr. Thule xxvi, Lavender knew well what prompted these scornful comments on Borva. 1887Bowen Virg. æneid iv. 290 The reasons that prompt this policy new.
†b. With direct and indirect (dative) obj. Obs.
1607Shakes. Cor. iii. ii. 54 Not..by th' matter Which your heart prompts you. 1632Sir T. Hawkins tr. Mathieu's Unhappy Prosperitie 101 Nature so unworthily outraged, prompted him these imprecations.
Hence ˈprompted, ˈprompting ppl. adjs.
1588Shakes. L.L.L. iv. iii. 322 The prompting eyes, Of beauties tutors. 1671Milton P.R. i. 12 Inspire As thou art wont my prompted Song. 1826Foster in Life & Corr. (1846) II. 80 A prompting impulse to go and look for him. |