(|)ek|stempə|rānēəs, ik|- adjective
Etymology: Late Latin extemporaneus, from Latin ex tempore + -aneus (as in subterraneus subterranean)
1.
a. : composed, performed, or uttered on or as if on the spur of the moment
an extemporaneous musical composition
an extemporaneous piece of verse
: impromptu
extemporaneous comment
or apparently impromptu (as by avoiding use of rigid memorization, reading, or notes)
a brilliant extemporaneous speech
: marked by or as if by no previous thought, study, or other preparation : improvised, unpremeditated
b. : skilled at, given to, or marked by extemporaneous composing, performance, or utterance
one of the funniest extemporaneous wits of our time — E.J.Kahn
c. : happening suddenly, often unexpectedly, and usually without clearly known causes or relationships
a great deal of criminal and delinquent behavior is … extemporaneous — W.C.Reckless
2. : provided, made, or put to use as a temporary expedient : suggested by or hurriedly adapted to the occasion : makeshift
preparing an extemporaneous meal
using an extemporaneous shelter
3. of a pharmaceutical preparation : compounded according to a physician's prescription as needed : prepared when ordered : not ready-made
• ex·tem·po·ra·ne·ous·ly adverb
• ex·tem·po·ra·ne·ous·ness noun -es