presto Italian · revision 37709

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=13th century, Chiaro Davanzati|origins=la praestō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈprɛs.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''presto''' (feminine presta, masculine plural presti, feminine plural preste, superlative prestissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|la-lat|praestus|t=ready]], a Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*praestus]] formed from the classical adverb [[la|praestō|t=at hand, available]], used in the phrase ⟨praesto esse⟩ “to be ready, to be at someone's disposal”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The same word is [[fro|prest]] (modern [[fr|prêt]]), [[oc|prest]], [[ca|prest]], [[es|presto]], [[pt|presto]] and [[fur|prest]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) DEI notes that the dialects differ in the quality of the stressed vowel.^(DEI|3072)

+

+ DELI and DEI give the Latin adverb as the etymon of the adverb “soon, quickly”.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3072) In 1993, after a critical review of the sources, Arrigo Castellani concluded that it is not a direct continuation of the Latin adverb but the adjective used as an adverb, and DELI and Nocentini report his view.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Castellani found that the adverb came into general use late, replacing [[tosto]], which prevailed in the 13th and 14th centuries; his oldest example of the sense “soon” is from 1388, in the letters of Florence's Dieci to its ambassadors.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The Latin adverb is of uncertain origin.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|14, 273) It begins with [[m|la|prae-|t=before]], but the ending is obscure.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary reports two analyses of the related verb [[m|la|praestōlor|t=to wait for]], both with a second element from [[ine-pro|*stel-|t=to place]].^(Wiktionary) Devoto saw in it an old phrase meaning “before the hand”.^(Devoto 1968|344)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record of the adverb, in the sense “in a short while, soon”, is in the poet Chiaro Davanzati in the 13th century.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|14, 273) The adjective “quick, prompt” is in a laud from Urbino of about 1300, and Dante writes of “una lonza leggiera e presta molto” (a leopard, light and very quick).^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “quickly, in a hurry” is first recorded in Boccaccio in 1353, and “early, ahead of time” only in a collection of Tuscan proverbs of 1853.^(DELI 1999) The adjective “ready, prepared” is literary: Boccaccio has the abbot told that the meal ''era presto'', was ready.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The derivative ''prestezza'' “readiness, speed” is recorded before 1292 in Bono Giamboni.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ As a direction in music, ''presto'' marks a very fast tempo, faster than ''allegro'' and slower than ''prestissimo''.^(DIFIT)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) In that sense it went into German in 1619, into English in the 1680s (Purcell) and into French in 1750.^(DIFIT)^(Etymonline) English had already taken ''presto'' “quickly” in the 1590s from the patter of conjurers, and the exclamation ''hey presto'' dates from the 19th century.^(Etymonline)^(DIFIT) French ''preste'' “nimble” was borrowed in the 15th century.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Chiaro Davanzati uses ''presto'' “soon”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''prestezza''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * C. 1300 – The adjective “quick” appears in a laud from Urbino.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses ''presto'' “quickly”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1388 – The oldest example of ''presto'' “soon” found by Castellani, in Florentine diplomatic letters.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1590s – English borrows ''presto'' from conjurers' patter.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1619 – German borrows the musical term.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1680s – Purcell uses ''presto'' in English as a tempo marking.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1853 – A collection of Tuscan proverbs has ''presto'' “early”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|soon]], in a short time: ''Torneremo presto a trovarvi.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|quickly]], in a hurry: ''Vieni presto, il treno sta per partire!''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|early]], before the expected time or at an early hour: ''Sabato ci alziamo presto per partire.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(music)'' At a very fast [[m|en|tempo]].^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DIFIT)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(literary)'' [[m|en|ready]], prepared.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary)'' Quick, [[m|en|nimble]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prestezza]]

+ * [[prestamente]]

+ * [[prestissimo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[apprestare]]

+ * [[tosto]]

+ * [[la|praestō]]

+ * [[fr|prêt]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Set phrases include ''a presto'' “see you soon”, ''al più presto'' “as soon as possible” and ''presto o tardi'' “sooner or later”, and the proverb ''presto e bene raro avviene'', “quick and good rarely go together”.^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) GRADIT lists two obsolete homographs: ''presto'' “loan”, a noun formed from [[prestare]], kept in the name of the old Florentine ''Monte del Presto'' (a pawnbroking office), and ''presto'' “priest”, from Old French ''prestre'', as in Ariosto's name for Prester John, “Presto o Preteianni”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GDLI|14, 278)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}