A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490-1596, 1675
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Prompt(e, Promp(e, adj. [Late ME and e.m.E. prompt(e (a 1450), OF prompt, L. prompt -us.] Of persons and their faculties: Prepared for action; ready and willing; prone, liable; quick, alert; clever. Also, of speech: quick, fluent.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 137/33.
For sche was prompte and werray reddy, obeyand to Goddis will 1567 Satirical Poems iii 225.
And than in Latine leid I think to spred My veirsis prompt in style rethoricall 1579 Despauter (1579) 111.
Gracilis, prompt and sowpill c1590 Fowler I 65/210.
So that my soule … Which greit desyre makis prompt and light was conforted ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 129.
Mr. Williame Blakhall, … a prompt scoller(b) c1590 Fowler I 59/21.
I Alceus saw, so pregnant, promp, of lowe that culd indyte c1590 Ib. 89/77.
When fleshe was frayle and bodie seik & spreit more prompe agane c1590 Ib. 116/110.(2) a1500 Henr. Orph. 574 (Ch. & M.).
Sen oure affection Is alway prompt [Asl. prompe, Bann. promp] & redy to fall doun 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 17/29.
Of inuyful gramariaris quhilkis ar mair prompt to reprehende ane smal falt nor tha ar to commend ane verteouse act 1549 Ib. 12/15. 1596 Dalr. II 206/28.
How prompe and radie to do the king pleisour at a wink quhen he wald charge(3) a1578 Pitsc. I 138/19.
Ane Inglischeman … prompt of toung and hardie of contienance 1578 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I 61.
Na vthir persoun … that was prompt or perfyte of the Scotis langage 1570 (a 1651) Bk. Univ. Kirk I 175 (C).
Mr. John Robertsone … to assist Mr. Donald Monroe, Commissioner of Rosse, because the said Commissioner was not prompt in the Scottish tongue
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"Prompt adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/prompte>
