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Origin and history of pronto

pronto(adv.)

"promptly, soon, quickly," 1850, from Spanish pronto "ready, prompt," from Latin promptus (see prompt (v.)). The Italian cognate of the Spanish word, pronto, had been used in English by 1740 in musical instructions.

also from 1850

Entries linking to pronto

prompt(v.)

mid-14c., prompten, "to incite to action, urge," from the adjective or from Latin promptus, past participle of promere "to bring forth," from pro "forward" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward") + emere "to take" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute").

The meaning "coach (someone), assist (a learner or speaker) by suggesting something forgotten or imperfectly learned or known" is from early 15c.; specifically in the theatrical sense of "to assist a speaker with lines" by 1670s. Related: Prompted; prompting.

*em-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to take, distribute." 

It might form all or part of: assume; consume; emption; example; exemplar; exemplary; exemplify; exempt; exemption; impromptu; peremptory; pre-emption; premium; presume; presumption; prompt; pronto; ransom; redeem; redemption; resume; sample; Sejm; subsume; sumptuary; sumptuous; vintage.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit yamati "holds, subdues;" Latin emere "buy," originally "take," sumere "to take, obtain, buy;" Old Church Slavonic imo "to take;" Lithuanian imu, imti "to take."

For the sense shift from "take" to "buy" in the Latin verbs, compare Old English sellan "to give," source of Modern English sell "to give in exchange for money;" Hebrew laqah "he bought," originally "he took;" and colloquial English I'll take it for "I'll buy it." 

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    idiosyncrasy
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