PROMPT'ER, noun One that prompts; one that admonishes or incites to action. 1. One that is placed behind the scenes in a play-house, whose business is to assist the speakers when at a loss, by uttering the first words of a sentence or words forgotten; or any person who aids a public speaker when at a loss, by suggesting the next words of his piece.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI