Meaning

noun a cue given to a performer (usually the beginning of the next line to be spoken)

noun (computer science) a symbol that appears on the computer screen to indicate that the computer is ready to receive a command

verb give an incentive for action

originThe adjective is from Middle English prompte, from Middle French prompt and its etymon Latin prōmptus (“visible, apparent, evident”), past participle of prōmō (“to take or bring out or forth, produce, bring to light”), from prō (“forth, forward”) + emō (“to take, acquire, buy”). Doublet of pronto. The verb is from Middle English prompen, apparently from the adjective. The noun is from the verb.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0