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definitions

prestissimo

[pre-stis-uh-moh; Italian pre-stees-see-maw]
adverb
  1. (a musical direction) in the most rapid tempo.

Origin of prestissimo

1715–25; < Italian: most quickly, superlative of presto presto
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for prestissimo

Historical Examples of prestissimo

  • Sebastiano quickened the time till he was playing it prestissimo.

    The Call of the Blood

    Robert Smythe Hichens

  • All this leads to a prestissimo finale of startling splendour.

    Franz Liszt

    James Huneker

  • Presto, prestissimo, vivacissimo, and prestissimo possibile—the most rapid tempo possible.

  • 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

  • Here the baby was kissed crescendo, prestissimo, till he laughed more than ever.

British Dictionary definitions for prestissimo

prestissimo

adjective, adverb
  1. to be played as fast as possible
noun plural -mos
  1. 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