(Thus we saw that the amoeba is in the habit of "extemporising" a stomach when it wants one.) "Other wants occasioned by circumstances will lead to other efforts, which in their turn will generate new organs." ❋ Samuel Butler (1868)
The difference is that, unlike Alvy, Ruppert seems to believe that there is still a good reason to get out there and talk about these things, and maybe even do something, although after almost 90 minutes of watching him extemporising, explaining, chain-smoking and occasionally weeping at the tragic state of things, it's hard to see what. ❋ Mark Kermode (2010)
A far more likely explanation is that they were never part of the instructions in the first place and the accused was again extemporising an answer that he thought would serve his immediate purpose, which included his oft repeated insistence that other were to blame, particularly his accounting staff, for questions that he had difficulty in answering. ❋ Unknown (2005)
Spread on the jury foremast these enabled them to get the Pretty Jane before the trade wind, to creep along at a mile an hour while they set to work on extemporising aftersails that doubled her speed. ❋ Forester, C. S. (1958)
Some of the party drifted in from the terrace outside as Sandy's long, boyish fingers began to move capably over the keys, extemporising delightfully. ❋ Margaret Pedler (N/A)
At this gentle admonition the sleepy child would rise obediently, rubbing his eyes, and master and pupil descended to the sitting-room, where they would play together till the early hours of the morning -- Pfeiffer giving out a theme, and Beethoven extemporising upon it, and then ❋ Francis Jameson Rowbotham (N/A)
"The Directory for the Public Worship of God in the three Kingdoms" was not so much a book of devotions as a set of instructions to the minister, who was allowed the discretion of using what the book provided, or extemporising a service of his own upon its principles. ❋ George Worley (N/A)
He took the hint, and ended this triumphant display of skill by extemporising ❋ Various (N/A)
During these last years he led a very retired life, but he continued to play the organ at his oratorios, at first from memory, and later extemporising the solos in his concertos, which were always an integral feature of his concerts. ❋ Edward J. Dent (1916)
But when I was presented to Lord Nevil I desired, perhaps too ardently, to please him; I displayed all my talents, dancing, singing, and extemporising before him -- I believe, though I am not certain -- that I appeared to Lord Nevil somewhat too wild; for although he treated me very kindly, yet, when he left my father he said that he thought his son too young for the marriage in question. ❋ Various (1910)
Once or twice, it seemed that she was an instrument on which pain was extemporising the most ingenious symphonies, each more involved than the last. ❋ Unknown (1909)
The baron withdrew silently, and returning later found Beethoven extemporising in heavenly mood. ❋ Hughes, Rupert, 1872-1956 (1903)
I hear her through the open window, extemporising touching melodies in her charming, cooing voice. ❋ Elizabeth Von Arnim (1903)
The old man was extemporising; but his manner was evident even in that; there was a simple solemn phrase that formed his theme, and round this adorning and enriching it moved the grave chords. ❋ Robert Hugh Benson (1892)
Despite its incessant plaintive accent, his music is saved by the endless flow of melody, often lovely, generally characteristic, though sometimes common, in which Schubert continually expressed anew his one mood; and he was placed among the great ones by the miraculous facility he possessed of extemporising frequent passages of extraordinary power and bigness. ❋ John F. Runciman (1891)
Thrusting one thumb into the armhole of his waistcoat, he waved the other hand in the air, and, with an extemporising gaze at the shining sheep-crooks above the mantelpiece, began: ❋ Thomas Hardy (1884)
He begged to be excused, expressing at the same time a high sense of the honour done him by such a request, while he smiled to himself at the idea of his extemporising a lecture. ❋ Henry James (1879)
His reposeful, wooing touch on the piano or organ, either when he was extemporising or when he interpreted one of the masters, expressed the inner working of his own gentle spirit. ❋ Talbot Baines Reed (1872)
Arthur, meanwhile, had a more delicate task to perform in extemporising the toilet of a maid-of - all-work. ❋ Talbot Baines Reed (1872)
"You don't mean to pretend that you were extemporising?" ❋ George MacDonald (1864)
