Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not studied or prepared beforehand; impromptu; extemporaneous: as, “improviso translation,”

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective obsolete Not prepared or mediated beforehand; extemporaneous.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective obsolete Not prepared beforehand; unpremeditated; extemporaneous.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin improvisus ("unforeseen"); compare Italian improvviso.

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Examples

  • Caduca nimirum et fragilia, et puerilibus consentanea crepundiis sunt ista quae vires et opes humanae vocantur, affluunt subito, repente delabuntur, nullo in loco, nulla in persona, stabilibus nixa radicibus consistunt, sed incertissimo flatu fortunae quos in sublime extulerunt improviso recursu destitutos in profundo miseriarum valle miserabiliter immergunt.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • Terror et metus maxime ex improviso accedentes ita animum commovent, ut spiritus nunquam recuperent, gravioremque melancholiam terror facit, quam quae ab interna causa fit.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • Romanus operam suam pollicitus, et cum eo L. Vargunteius senator constituere ea nocte paulo post cum armatis hominibus sicuti salutatum [147] introire ad Ciceronem ac de improviso domi suae imparatum confodere.

    C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino 86 BC-34? BC Sallust

  • Romani ex improviso pulveris vim magnam animadvertunt; nam prospectum ager arbustis consitus prohibebat.

    C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino 86 BC-34? BC Sallust

  • Igitur ex improviso fines ejus cum magna manu invadit; multos mortales cum pecore atque alia praeda capit, aedificia incendit, pleraque loca hostiliter cum equitatu accedit, deinde cum omni multitudine in regnum suum convertit, existimans dolore permotum

    C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino 86 BC-34? BC Sallust

  • Dum apud Zamam sic certatur, Jugurtha ex improviso castra hostium cum magna manu invadit, remissis, qui in praesidio erant, [315] et omnia magis quam proelium expectantibus, portam irrumpit.

    C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino 86 BC-34? BC Sallust

  • He had resolved to improviso the coachman, though he had never driven a horse before in his life -- +eukolon einai+ -- "it is an easy matter;" and he drove like Jehu, shouted like Stentor, and laughed like the Afrite of Caliph Vathek.

    Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 55, No. 344, June, 1844 Various

  • Romani milites, improviso metu incerti ignarique, quid potissimum facerent, trepidare; ad arcem oppidi, ubi signa et scuta erant, praesidium hostium; portae ante clausae fugam prohibebant; ad hoc mulieres puerique pro tectis aedificiorum [361] saxa et alia, quae locus praebebat, certatim mittere.

    C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino 86 BC-34? BC Sallust

  • Respondióme que era gran verdad que él con su trabajo los habia notado en la Biblia sin ayudarse de otro libro; y créolo porque no se precia de leer ni aun á los sanctos, y promete que de improviso dirá una hora y mas sobre cualquier paso de la Biblia que le abrieren; y si le dicen que lea los sanctos dice que no los lee porque no le sirven de nada.

    Fray Luis de León A Biographical Fragment James Fitzmaurice-Kelly

  • Ea res ut in tali negotio [606] probata; ac statim profecti, quia de improviso acciderant, [607] dubio atque haesitante Jugurtha, incolumes transeunt.

    C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino 86 BC-34? BC Sallust

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