Improvisation
/ˌɪm.prə.vəˈzeɪ.ʃən/noun
The act of creating or performing something spontaneously without prior preparation.
Did you know?Improvisation ultimately comes from Latin roots connected with seeing and foresight, making it linguistically the creation of something that was not previously envisioned.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weyd-
“To see, perceive, or know”
Classical Latin
Latin
vidēre
“To see”
Classical Latin
Latin
improvisus
“Unforeseen or not previously seen”
16th Century
Italian
improvvisare
“To compose or perform without preparation”
17th Century
French
improvisation
“Spontaneous composition or performance”
19th Century
English
improvisation
“The act of creating or performing without preparation”