Extempore (noun) refers to a speech or performance delivered without preparation, typically improvised on the spot. It connotes spontaneity, fluency, and quick thinking, often in a formal or public-speaking context. The term can describe a speech, remarks, or even a written piece delivered with impromptu elevation or suitability to current circumstances.
"She gave an extempore speech at the conference, relying on her quick thinking and rehearsed general knowledge."
"The comedian’s extempore routine impressed the audience with its fresh, unscripted humor."
"During the debate, he delivered an extempore rebuttal that addressed the opposing team’s points on the fly."
"The actor impressed the director with an extempore monologue that captured the character’s spontaneity."
Extempore comes from Latin ex tempore, meaning 'out of time' or 'without time.' The phrase is composed of ex- (out of) and tempus (time). In English, the word entered usage in the 18th century, originally in rhetoric and theater circles to describe speeches or performances delivered without prior preparation. The sense expanded to include any spontaneous utterance or improvisation in formal settings. Over time, extempore became a standard noun in academic and public-speaking contexts, often contrasted with ex officio or prepared orations. The term embodies the tension between structure and spontaneity in communication, and it persists in modern usage as a descriptor for ad-libbed remarks or presentations when time constraints or circumstances demand immediate verbal response.
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Words that rhyme with "Extempore"
-mor sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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/ˈɛkstɛmˌpɔːr/ (US) or /ˌɛkstɛmˈpɔː/ (UK). Primary stress is on the second syllable: ek-STEM-po-re. The initial ‘ex’ sounds like ‘eks,’ the ‘tem’ as in ‘tem’ with a clear /tɛm/ vowel, and the final ‘pore’ rhymes with ‘more’ but with an open back vowel in many dialects. In practice, keep the /t/ crisp, and ensure the second syllable is reduced slightly less than the first. Audio reference: listen for the subtle secondary stress before the final syllable in natural speech.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying ek-STEM-poe-er; (2) Slurring the ‘mp’ into a single sound or mispronouncing the final ‘ore’ as /ɔːr/ without the post-tonic vowel; (3) Flattening the vowel in the second syllable or pronouncing it as /ɛ/ in all contexts. Correction: keep the second syllable clearly stressed with /ˈɛkstɛm/; articulate ‘pɔːr’ with a rounded back vowel and final /r/ with American-ish rhoticity, and practice the transition from /m/ to /p/ to prevent a blended cluster. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the vowel quality.
US: /ˈɛkstɛmˌpɔːr/, rhotic /r/ at the end, slight final devoicing in rapid speech. UK: /ˌɛkstɛmˈpɔː/ with variable rhoticity (non-rhotic in some accents), final /r/ often silent in non-rhotic dialects; primary stress on the second syllable but with a lighter final, sometimes lengthened in careful speech. AU: /ˌekstɛmˈpɔː/ with similar non-rhotic tendencies, more vowel quality after /p/ and a stronger emphasis on the second syllable, but overall similar rhythm to UK. IPA references reflect rhotic differences and vowel quality shifts by region.
The difficulty lies in balancing multi-syllabic rhythm with a strong second-syllable stress and a trailing /ɔːr/ vowel cluster that can be challenging in fast speech. The sequence /kstɛm/ requires a precise /t/ release and the transition into /pɔːr/ demands lip rounding and an accurate r-colored vowel in rhotic varieties. Learners often misplace stress, shorten the final vowel, or merge the /mp/ into a single sound. Practice slow, then escalate speed while preserving each phoneme distinctly.
Extempore has a stressed second syllable relative to the root, with a secondary emphasis preparing for the final segment. The unique feature is the consonant cluster /kst/ at the start of the word and the /pɔːr/ ending that involves a rounded back vowel and rhotic coloring in many dialects. Keeping the /k/ and /s/ distinct before the /t/ helps avoid merging sounds. Focus on the clarity of the middle syllable /tɛm/ and the clear final /ɔːr/.
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