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pres·to

(prĕstō)

adv.

1. Music In a very fast tempo, usually considered to be faster than allegro but slower than prestissimo. Used chiefly as a direction.

2. So suddenly that magic seems involved; right away.

n. pl. pres·tos
Music

A passage or movement that is performed presto.

[Italian, from Late Latin praestus, quick, from Latin praestō, at hand; see ghes- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

presto adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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