promptitude

From Middle French, from Late Latin promptitudo, from Latin promptus.

promptitude (usually uncountable, plural promptitudes)

1. The quality of being prompt; alacrity.
   • 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter LIII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], OCLC 1000392275, page 58:

     The pleasure evinced by Sir Charles was only less than that of his lady, and, as he appeared every way worthy of her, and sensible of her value, Mr. Glentworth bade her adieu with the more cheerfulness, and, on their return to the hotel, Isabella had ceased to lament the transaction, and all agreed to praise that promptitude of action which had enabled him to perform his wishes so happily.

   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 18,

     Small wonder then that the Indomitable's Captain, though in general a man of rapid decision, felt that circumspectness not less than promptitude was necessary.

   • 1946 May and June, J. Alan Rannie, “The Midland of 35 Years Ago”, in Railway Magazine, page 135:

     Also, much depended on an exceptional esprit de corps which permeated the whole staff, and achieved miracles of promptitude in such details as engine-changing and the marshalling of trains.

• (quality of being prompt): promptness

Borrowed from Late Latin promptitūdo.

• IPA^(key): /pʁɔ̃p.ti.tyd/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -yd

promptitude f (uncountable)

1. promptitude

• “promptitude”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.