prestissimo

[ pre-stis-uh-moh; Italian pre-stees-see-maw ]

/ prɛˈstɪs əˌmoʊ; Italian prɛˈstis siˌmɔ /

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adverb

(a musical direction) in the most rapid tempo.

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Origin of prestissimo

1715–25; <Italian: most quickly, superlative of prestopresto

Words nearby prestissimo

presternum, prestidigitation, prestige, prestige pricing, prestigious, prestissimo, prest money, presto, presto chango, Preston, Prestonpans

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How to use prestissimo in a sentence

The rapidity of phrasing in this movement was abnormal—prestissimo, in fact, if we indulge our musical vocabulary.
Somehow Good|William de Morgan
Up in the top story hurrying drips beat, like metronomes, all the tempi, from a ponderous adagio to a racing prestissimo.
Mount Music|E. Oe. Somerville and Martin Ross
I trust to hear from you not only as fast as allegro, but veloce prestissimo, and good tidings too.
Life of Beethoven|Anton Schindler
He writes presto on a sonata, or even prestissimo or alia breve, and plays it allegro in three-four time.
Life Of Mozart, Vol. 2 (of 3)|Otto Jahn

When one dies them, four or five times a week, he longs to hasten the course of events, to change the Andante to a Prestissimo.
The Dominant Strain|Anna Chapin Ray

British Dictionary definitions for prestissimo

prestissimo

/ (prɛˈstɪsɪˌməʊ) music /

adjective, adverb

to be played as fast as possible

noun plural -mos

a piece or passage directed to be played in this way

Word Origin for prestissimo

C18: from Italian: very quickly, from presto fast

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