Etymology Map
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Improvise

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to create without preparation

Where does the word "improvise" come from? It comes from Latin improvisus, passing through Italian before entering English (1820s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
improvisus
Latin · ancient
"unforeseen"
'in-', not, plus 'provisus', foreseen
2
Stage 2 of 3
improvvisare
Italian · 1600s
"to improvise"
came via Italian and then French 'improviser'
3
Stage 3 of 3
improvise
English · 1820s
"to perform unprepared"
improv comedy dates from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Improvise’s story begins in Latin: improvisus meant “unforeseen.” 'in-', not, plus 'provisus', foreseen. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Italian as improvvisare. Came via Italian and then French 'improviser'. It reached English by 1820s as improvise. Improv comedy dates from the 1900s. Today, improvise means to create without preparation.