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

Del paese basse Magne, Dove assai fatiche afute Tutte noi pofer compagne Per ir Rome sian fenute.

From Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535 by Power, Eileen

E pi� d'onore ancora assai mi fenno: Ch'essi mi fecer della loro schiera, S� ch'io fui sesto tra cotanto senno.—Inf.

From Dante. An essay. To which is added a translation of De Monarchia. by Church, R. W. (Richard William)

Ei che modesto è, com' essa è bella, Brama, assai, poco spera, nulla chiede!

From The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2) or Memoirs of Women Loved and Celebrated by Poets, from the Days of the Troubadours to the Present Age. 3rd ed. 2 Vols. by Jameson, Mrs. (Anna)

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