▪ I. extempore, adv., a., and n.
(ɛksˈtɛmpəriː)
[a. L. phrase ex tempore lit. ‘out of the time’.]
A. adv.
1. At the moment, without premeditation or preparation; at first sight; off-hand. Now usually with reference to speech, composition, or musical performance. to speak extempore in present use often merely means to speak without notes, or without reading from manuscript. to pray extempore is opposed to using a set form of prayer.
| a 1553 Udall Royster D. (Arb.) 32 Yea and extempore will he dities compose. 1588 Babington Exp. Lord's Pr. 175 Afterward..he..began to preach extempore. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 29 A speedie..drinke which trauailers may make for themselves (ex tempore) when they are distressed for want of good Beer. 1642 Prince Rupert Declaration 2 Noblemen..could then fight so valiantly ex tempore. a 1688 Bunyan Wks. II. 677 It is at this day wonderful common, for men to pray Ex-tempore..To pray by a Book..is now out of fashion. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. i. (1709) 140, I don't like a Man that can hate at first Sight, and kill Ex⁓tempore. 1752 Phil. Trans. 11 June, [The tackle and pullies]..being easily..applied ex tempore as occasion requires. 1756 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. xcviii. IV. 81, I wrote, extempore, on the back of the song, some stanzas, that went perfectly well to the tune. 1837 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 72 He proposes to speak these lectures extempore. a 1845 Hood Open Question ix, He played extempore as well As certain wild Itinerants on Sunday. 1847 Grote Greece (1862) III. xxxvi. 289 The right expedient seemed to flash upon his mind extempore. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xi. (1878) 209, I always preach extempore. |
† 2. On the instant; at once; immediately. Obs.
| 1593 Nashe Four Lett. Confut. 65 You shall see me cast a figure for him extempore. 1604 Meeting Gallants at Ordinarie 22 The body must be removed..extempore: it would affect all the Ayre round about else. 1663 J. Spencer Prodigies Pref., I'd yeeld extempore my breath. |
† 3. to live extempore: to live ‘from hand to mouth’. Obs.
| 1679 J. Goodman Penit. Pardoned ii. i. (1713) 146 When a man lives not ex tempore, but premeditates. 1728 T. Sheridan Persius iii. (1739) 47 To live extempore without any Regard to the future. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. IV. 58 There are too many in the world..who seem to live extempore..being immersed only in present matters. |
B. adj.
1. Arising out of the moment; casual, occasional; sudden, unprepared for. Now only of personal actions (cf. 2).
| 1639 Fuller Holy War v. xiv. (1840) 267 It was..an extempore water, flowing from the snow which melted on hills. 1679 J. Goodman Penit. Pardoned ii. ii. (1713) 174 It was but a flash, an extempore motion. a 1716 South Wks. IV. 50 To make the salvation of an immortal soul, such a slight, extempore business. 1755 Young Centaur v. Wks. 1757 IV. 240 Shall we..leap plumb into the jaws of extempore death? 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. (1861) 150 He was somewhat subject to extempore bursts of passion. 1840 Hood Up the Rhine 228 Markham's extempore championship of the twelve tribes. |
2. Of a discourse, etc.: Composed, spoken, performed, or acted at the moment, without premeditation or preparation. Now usually understood to mean: Without the assistance of notes, or without reading.
| a 1637 B. Jonson Leges Convivales Wks. (Rtldg.) 727 Let no poetaster command Another extempore verses to make. 1665 Wither Lord's Prayer Preamb., There is in many, an excellent gift of extempore vocal Prayer. a 1704 Locke Paraphr. 1 Cor. xiv. note Wks. 1714 III. 199 Their singing..was of extempore hymns by the impulse of the Spirit. 1756 Cibber Apol. (ed. 4) II. 112 Extempore farces or dialogues continued till they were displaced by the exhibition of the mysteries. 1795 Mason Ch. Mus. i. 54 Voluntaries..continue to be always extempore productions. 1837 J. H. Newman Par. Serm. (1839) I. xx. 301 To be present at extempore prayer, is to hear prayers. 1841 D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 292 The boy..acted an extempore part of his own invention. 1844 Stanley Arnold I. iii. 141 His [Dr. Arnold's] power of extempore translation into English. |
b. Of speakers, performers.
| 1791–1823 D'Israeli Cur. Lit. (1866) 226/2 This accomplished extempore actor. 1886 Beeton's Complete Orator ii. 122 Tillotson failed altogether as an extempore preacher. |
3. Contrived for the occasion, makeshift.
| 1694 F. Bragge Disc. on Parables i. 7 To..have an extempore superficial religion. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) x. xxi, Dinner dressed by the housemaid with extempore spits, saucepans etc. 1823 Bentham Not Paul 347 A sort of mixed and extempore judicatory. 1856 Miss Mulock J. Halifax (ed. 17) 176 John lay on an extempore sofa. |
† C. n. Extempore composition, speech, or performance; an impromptu, improvisation. Obs.
| 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. v. A poet! I will challenge him my selfe presently, at ex tempore. 1610 Histrio-m. i. 127 Post. We can all sing and say, And so (with practise) soone may learn to play. Inc. True, could our action answer your extempore. 1660 Pepys Diary 6 July, W. H. and I did sing extempores. 1737 Common Sense (1738) I. 312 Anagrams..and ex Tempores are all their own. 1798 Wolcott (P. Pindar) Tales of Hoy Wks. 1812 IV. 410 The extempore, the extempore on the Flys, or you shan't have your Passage for nothing. 1813 Scott Trierm. ii. Interl. at end, ii, Such may hither secret stray, To labour an extempore. 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 49 A specimen of Mr. Pratt's extempore. |
▪ II. † exˈtempore, v. Obs. rare—1.
[f. prec.]
trans. = extemporize.
| 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. III. 3 Oct., A loud laugh..he could at all times extempore. |