extempore
Americanadverb
-
on the spur of the moment; without premeditation or preparation; offhand.
Questions were asked extempore from the floor.
-
without notes.
to speak extempore.
-
(of musical performance) by improvisation.
adjective
adverb
Synonym Usage
See extemporaneous.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of extempore
First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin: literally, “out of the time, at the moment,” equivalent to ex “out of” ( see ex- 1) + tempore “the time” (ablative singular of tempus )
Explanation
Something extempore is spontaneous and unscripted. An extempore dance party on the city bus might be fun, while an extempore speech in front of the whole school could be terrifying. The term exetempore comes from the Latin phrase ex tempore, "out of time," and was originally used to mean "without time to prepare." These days it usually comes up when a performer is improvising or a speaker goes off script or doesn't use a teleprompter: "The President's extempore remarks made his advisors nervous." You can also use the synonym extemporaneous.
Vocabulary lists containing extempore
A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Society and Solitude
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Novel Study: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I have known a Woman branch out into a long Extempore Dissertation upon the Edging of a Petticoat, and chide her Servant for breaking a China Cup, in all the Figures of Rhetorick.
From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph
Extempore speaking; a handbook for the student, the coach, and the judge.
From U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1974 July - December by Library of Congress. Copyright Office
The discussion has been somewhat confused by the misuse of the word Extempore.
From The Prayer Book Explained by Jackson, Percival
Extempore teaching on men and things, taking care that all such teaching shall be illustrated by substances.
From The Infant System For Developing the Intellectual and Moral Powers of all Children, from One to Seven years of Age by Wilderspin, Samuel
Extempore prayers are not, perhaps, a proper subject for comment.
From Famous Americans of Recent Times by Parton, James
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
