de improviso

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /deː im.proːˈu̯iː.soː/, [d̪eː ɪmproːˈu̯iːs̠oː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /de im.proˈvi.so/, [d̪ɛː improˈviːs̬o]

Adverb

dē imprōvīsō (not comparable)

1. unexpectedly, on a sudden
   • c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 6.3:

     Itaque nondum hieme confecta proximis quattuor coactis legionibus de improviso in fines Nerviorum contendit et, priusquam illi aut convenire aut profugere possent, magno pecoris atque hominum numero capto atque ea praeda militibus concessa vastatisque agris in deditionem venire atque obsides sibi dare coegit.

     Accordingly, while the winter was not yet ended, having concentrated the four nearest legions, he marched unexpectedly into the territories of the Nervii, and before they could either assemble or retreat, after capturing a large number of cattle and of men, and wasting their lands and giving up that booty to the soldiers, compelled them to enter into a surrender and give him hostages.

Further reading

• Charlton T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary, imprōvīsus (in-pr-)

Spanish

Adverb

de improviso

1. out of the blue

Further reading

• “de improviso”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2023 November 28