Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
PROMPT
I. transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin promptare, from Latin promptus prompt
Date: 14th century
to move to action ; incite , to assist (one acting or reciting) by suggesting or saying the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned ; cue , to serve as the inciting cause of , prompter noun
II. adjective
Date: 1784
of or relating to prompting actors,
III. adjective see: redeem
Date: 15th century
being ready and quick to act as occasion demands, performed readily or immediately , see: quick promptly adverb promptness noun
IV. noun (plural prompts)
Date: circa 1531
something that prompts ; reminder, a limit of time given for payment of an account for goods purchased