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like; to make an abatement of; as, merchants sometimes discount five or six per cent for prompt payment of bills.

The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of business; prompt execution; diligence; haste. Serious business, craving quick dispatch. Shak. To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch through a sufficient space. Paley.

The state of being early or forward; promptness.

s economical and political. J. C. Shairp. There was no economical distress in England to prompt the enterprises of colonization. Palfrey. Economic questions, such as money, usury, taxes, lands, and the employment of the people. H. C. Baird.

The qualifies which prompt one to undertake difficult and dangerous exploits. I love thy courage yet and bolt emprise; But here thy sword can do thee little stead. Milton.

Willingness or eagerness to engage in labor which requires boldness, promptness, energy, and like qualities; as, a man of great enterprise.

Having a disposition for enterprise; characterized by enterprise; resolute, active or prompt to attempt; as, an enterprising man or firm. -- En"ter*pri`sing*ly, adv.

Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.] Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. Ford.

Expeditious; quick; speedily; prompt. Nimble and expedite . . . in its operation. Tollotson. Speech is a very short and expedite way of conveying their thoughts. Locke.

The quality of being expedite; efficient promptness; haste; dispatch; speed; quickness; as to carry the mail with expedition. With winged expedition Swift as the lightning glance.

; a courier; hence, a regular and fast conveyance; commonly, a company or system for the prompt and safe transportation of merchandise or parcels; also, a railway train for transporting passengers or goods with speed and punctuality.

A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.] Shak. The fancy, all of a class who exhibit and cultivate any peculiar taste or fancy; hence, especially, sporting characters taken collectively, or any specific class of them, as jockeys, gamblers, prize fighters, etc. At a great book sale in London, which had cong…

or on the flank of a column, of soldiers, to rectify mistakes and insure steadiness and promptness in the ranks.

the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done. With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. Shak. How to choose dogs for scent or speed. Waller. Now, for so many glorious actions…

twisted into a standard. Knight. -- To take time, or occasion, by the forelock, to make prompt use of anything; not to let slip an opportunity. Time is painted with a lock before and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for when it is once past, there is no recalling it. Swift. On oc…

Ready; prompt; strongly inclined; in an ill sense, overready; to hasty. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Gal. ii. 10. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded. Shak.

The state of being gay; merriment; mirth; acts or entertainments prompted by, or inspiring, merry delight; -- used often in the plural; as, the gayeties of the season.

ty that the old customers will resort to the old place. Lord Eldon. -- In good time. (a) Promptly; punctually; opportunely; not too soon nor too late. (b) (Mus.) Correctly; in proper time. -- To hold good, to remain true or valid; to be operative; to remain in force or effect; as, his promise holds good; the condition…

ly fitted for broiling food, esp. one in a restaurant, hotel, or clubhouse, arranged for prompt service.

nce, some haul the rope. Denham. Thither they bent, and hauled their ships to land. Pope. Romp-loving miss Is hauled about in gallantry robust. Thomson.