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presto

quickly

adverb PRES-toh Rare

Origin: Italian presto, quick, from Latin praestus, ready

Also means

at once

Usage Note

Presto is used in French as an informal adverb meaning 'very fast' or 'right away': et hop, presto! (and hey presto!). In music, borrowed directly from Italian, it indicates a very fast tempo. It often appears in the fixed phrase illico presto (immediately, on the spot), a reinforced form.

Examples

"Elle a rangé la chambre presto avant l'arrivée des invités."

Natural Translation

She tidied the room quickly before the guests arrived.

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