assai

¹ American  

[uh-sahy, ahs-sah-ee] / əˈsaɪ, ɑsˈsɑ i /

adverb

Music.

1. very.

   allegro assai (very quick).

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assai ² American  

[uh-sah-ee] / əˈsɑ i /

noun

1. any of several slender Brazilian palms of the genus Euterpe, especially E. edulis, a species bearing a purple fruit from which a beverage is made by infusion.

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assai ¹ British  

/ æˈsaɪ /

noun

1. any of several Brazilian palm trees of the genus Euterpe, esp E. edulis, that have small dark purple fleshy edible fruit

2. a beverage made from the fruit of this tree

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assai ² British  

/ æˈsaɪ /

adverb

1. music (usually preceded by a musical direction) very

   allegro assai

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Etymology

Origin of assai¹

First recorded in 1715–25; from Italian: literally, “enough,”ultimately from Latin ad “(up) to” + satis “enough.” See asset

Origin of assai²

1895–1900; < Portuguese < Tupi assaí

Example Sentences

Finally, the chorus ended the piece pomposo assai: "After hearing these instructions, you should be able to prepare your own return�unless you have complicated problems."

From Time Magazine Archive

The fruits of this sort are smaller than the true assai, but a drink is also made from them which some people consider more delicious than that either of the assai or patawa.

From The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon by Weir, Harrison

"Certainly, it was painted by my own father, six months after their marriage; she was then as you see, una bella giovanne assai."

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 383, September 1847 by Various

The Finale, Allegro assai, in complete and elaborate Sonata-form, is one of superb vigor and dash, the happiest example possible of Mozart's "joie de vivre."

From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond

Voi siete bella assai; ma pi� bella sareste, S'un de'pomi, che cantano, in una mano areste.

From The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi; Volume the First by Gozzi, Carlo