promptnessn.

1506 tr. Kalender Shepherdes sig. Eii The thyrde braunche of slewthe..Promptnes [to evil].

?1520 A. Barclay tr. Sallust Cron. Warre agaynst Iugurth xviii. f. xxvi^v Memmius (of whose condycions, promptnes of wytte, and hateredde: which he had agaynst the power of the estates and noble men we haue written before).

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Mviii Promptnes in perceyuing. Quyckenes of inuencion.

1586 W. Webbe Disc. Eng. Poetrie sig. G.i^v The ready skyll of framing anie thing in verse, besides the naturall promptnesse which many haue therevnto, is much helped by Arte.

1619 A. Gorges tr. F. Bacon Wisedome Ancients xxviii. 154 He happily discouered many new Aenigmaes.., which if he had not done with dexteritie and promptnesse, he had oftentimes fallen into imminent danger and destruction.

1622 To whom that he so much vouchsafe me May in G. Wither Iwenilia sig. Qq6 Let our promptnesse to obey, be euen The very same in earth, as 'tis in heauen.

1661 J. Worthington Let. 9 Sept. in Diary & Corr. (1855) II. i. 34 Finding in himself a great promptness in such didactic work.

1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. iv. 278 With wonderful Promptness and Diligence, the Land-Forces, Artillery, &c., were put on Shore.

1791 J. Bryant Treat. Authenticity Scriptures iv. 114 Their promptness shewed their zeal, and their faith.

1829 J. Togno & E. Durand tr. H. Milne-Edwards & P. Vavasseur Man. Materia Medica viii. 326 It possesses the same virtues as morphia, but acts with more promptness and energy.

1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest II. vii. 159 The hopes of an insurrection always lie in promptness and energy.

1911 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 23 Dec. 2059/2 The delay in hemolysis with tuberculous serums is striking in contrast to the promptness with which the controls hemolyze.

1997 N.Y. Mag. 7 Apr. 88/1 In clubland, promptness is not next to godliness; expect shows to start much later than promised.