I. An exposing to view, a being visible, visibility; only in the phrase in promptu (esse, habere, ponere, etc.), public, open, visible, manifest, before the eyes: “ut (decorum) non reconditā quādam ratione cernatur, sed sit in promptu,” Cic. Off. 1, 27, 95; so (opp. reconditiora) id. Ac. 2, 4, 10; (opp. interiora) id. Div. 2, 60, 124: “aliquid ponere in promptu (opp. contegere atque abdere),” id. Off. 1, 35, 126: “ingenium in promptu habere,” to display, Sall. C. 7, 1: “iram in promptu gerere,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 33: “in promptu scrinia Brutus habet,” Ov. P. 1, 1, 24: “in promptu gerunt ova,” Col. 8, 11, 8: in promptu est, with a subject-clause, it is clear, plain, evident: “omnibus in promptu manifestumque esse videmus, etc.,” Lucr. 2, 149; 246; 868.—
II. Readiness; only in the phrase in promptu esse, habere, to be at hand, to have ready: “ea dicam, quae mihi sunt in promptu,” Cic. Ac. 1, 2, 4; Liv. 25, 29 fin.: “in promptu habere, quantum natura hominis pecudibus antecedat,” Cic. Off. 1, 30, 105. —
III. Ease, facility; only in the phrase in promptu esse, to be easy, Sall. Or. ad Caes. 2: “quadrupedes In promptu regere est,” Ov. M. 2, 84: “quam quae comprendere dictis In promptu mihi sit,” id. ib. 13, 161.
