assai

[ uh-sahy; Italian ahs-sah-ee ]

/ əˈsaɪ; Italian ɑsˈsɑ i /

adverb Music.

very: allegro assai (very quick).

Nearby words

ass-kissing, ass., assad, assad, hafez al-, assagai, assai, assail, assailant, assam, assam states, assamese

Origin of assai

1715–25; < Italian: literally, enough ≪ Latin ad (up) to + satis enough. See asset

Definition for assai (2 of 2)

assai

[ uh-sah-ee ]

/ əˈsɑ i /

noun

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.

Origin of assai

1895–1900; < Portuguese < Tupi assaí

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for assai

Assai ben balla, chi fortuna suona—He dances well to whom fortune pipes.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
Assai basta, e troppo guasta—Enough is enough, and too much spoils.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
Assai guadagna chi vano sperar perde—He 25 gains a great deal who loses a vain hope.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
Assai ricco chi non manca—He is rich enough who has no wants.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood

Caterina answered him by quoting the Cyprian proverb, "Assai dimanda che fidelmente serve."
The Royal Pawn of Venice|Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull

British Dictionary definitions for assai (1 of 2)

assai

/ (æˈsaɪ) /

adverb

music (usually preceded by a musical direction) veryallegro assai

Word Origin for assai

Italian: enough

British Dictionary definitions for assai (2 of 2)

assai

/ (æˈsaɪ) /

noun

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

a beverage made from the fruit of this tree

Word Origin for assai

via Brazilian Portuguese from Tupi

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012