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

Another palm, the assai, afforded us an abundance of berries, about the size of a cranberry, and of a dark brown colour.

From The Wanderers Adventures in the Wilds of Trinidad and Orinoco by Perat

Ricevei la lettera che mi favori da Bastia, e mi consolo assai colla notizia di essersi rimessa in perfetta salute.

From Boswell's Correspondence with the Honourable Andrew Erskine, and His Journal of a Tour to Corsica by Hill, George Birkbeck Norman

A roar of a thousand voices was heard singing the national hymn: "Chi per la patria muore Vessuto ha assai!"

From The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume I by Lermina, Jules

This couplet, Spesso chi chiama Costantin felice Sta meglio assai di me e 'l ver non dice, seems to be a sigh from his own weariness.

From Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature Part 1 (of 2) by Symonds, John Addington