Extemporaneous
/ɪkˌstɛmpəˈreɪniəs/noun
Spoken or done without preparation or planning.
Did you know?The phrase ex tempore was used in classical rhetoric for speaking directly from the moment, giving unscripted words a sense of spontaneous authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*temh₁-
“To cut or divide; a reconstructed root associated with marking off sections.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
tempus
“A portion or division of time; a period or season.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ex tempore
“From the time or moment; on the spur of the moment.”
Late Latin
Latin
extemporaneus
“Done at the moment, without prior preparation.”
17th Century
English
extemporaneous
“Performed or spoken without preparation.”
Modern English
English
extemporaneous
“Impromptu, unscripted, or spontaneous.”