Prompt  —adj. Acting, made, or done with alacrity; ready (prompt reply). —adv. Punctually (at six o'clock prompt). —v. 1 (usu. Foll. By to, or to + infin.) Incite; urge (prompted them to action). 2 a (also absol.) Supply a forgotten word etc. To (an actor etc.). B assist (a hesitating speaker) with a suggestion. 3 give rise to; inspire (feeling, thought, action, etc.). —n. 1 a act of prompting. B thing said to prompt an actor etc. C = *prompter. 2 computing sign on a vdu screen to show that the system is waiting for input.  promptitude n. Promptly adv. Promptness n. [latin]