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Where does the word "ad lib" come from? It comes from Latin ad libitum, and was adopted directly into English (1910s).
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Where does the word "ad lib" come from? It comes from Latin ad libitum, and was adopted directly into English (1910s).
Ad lib’s story begins in Latin: ad libitum meant “at pleasure.” 'at one's pleasure', from 'libēre', to please. It reached English by 1910s as ad lib. First a direction in musical scores letting players perform freely; actors shortened it to 'ad lib' for improvised lines. Today, ad lib means to improvise; spoken without preparation.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ad libitum "at pleasure", 'at one's pleasure', from 'libēre', to please.
- Stage 2 · English · 1910s ad lib "improvise", first a direction in musical scores letting players perform freely; actors shortened it to 'ad lib' for improvised lines.