improviser
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prəˌvaɪz verb (used with object)
1.
to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation; extemporize: to improvise an acceptance speech.
2.
to compose, play, recite, or sing (verse, music, etc.) on the spur of the moment.
3.
to make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials are readily available: We improvised a dinner from yesterday's leftovers.
verb (used without object)
4.
to compose, utter, execute, or arrange anything extemporaneously: When the actor forgot his lines he had to improvise.
Origin:
1820–30; < French improviser, or its source, Italian improvisare (later improvvisare), verbal derivative of improviso improvised < Latin imprōvīsus, equivalent to im- im-2 + prōvīsus past participle of prōvidēre to see beforehand, prepare, provide for (a future circumstance). See proviso
1820–30; < French improviser, or its source, Italian improvisare (later improvvisare), verbal derivative of improviso improvised < Latin imprōvīsus, equivalent to im- im-2 + prōvīsus past participle of prōvidēre to see beforehand, prepare, provide for (a future circumstance). See proviso
Related forms
im·pro·vis·er, im·pro·vi·sor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To improviser
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Improviser
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
improvise (ˈɪmprəˌvaɪz) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to perform or make quickly from materials and sources available, without previous planning |
| 2. | to perform (a poem, play, piece of music, etc), composing as one goes along |
| [C19: from French, from Italian improvvisare, from Latin imprōvīsus unforeseen, from | |
| 'improviser | |
| —n | |
| improvise (ˈɪmprəˌvaɪz) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to perform or make quickly from materials and sources available, without previous planning |
| 2. | to perform (a poem, play, piece of music, etc), composing as one goes along |
| [C19: from French, from Italian improvvisare, from Latin imprōvīsus unforeseen, from | |
| 'improviser | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
improvise
1826, from Fr. improviser (17c.), from It. improvisare "to sing or speak extempore," from improviso, from L. improvisus "unforeseen, unexpected" (see improvisation).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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