adagio

[ uh-dah-joh, -zhee-oh; Italian ah-dah-jaw ]

adverb

1. Music. in a leisurely manner; slowly.

adjective

1. Music. slow.

noun

, plural a·da·gios.

1. Music. an adagio movement or piece.
2. Dance.
   1. a sequence of well-controlled, graceful movements performed as a display of skill.
   2. a duet by a man and a woman or mixed trio emphasizing difficult technical feats.
   3. (especially in ballet) a love-duet sequence in a pas de deux.

adagio

/ əˈdɑːdʒɪˌəʊ; aˈdadʒo /

adjective

1. (to be performed) slowly

noun

1. a movement or piece to be performed slowly
2. ballet a slow section of a pas de deux

adagio

1. A very slow musical tempo .

Word History and Origins

Origin of adagio¹

1740–50; < Italian, for ad agio at ease; agio < Old Provençal ais or Old French aise ( ease )

Word History and Origins

Origin of adagio¹

C18: Italian, from ad at + agio ease

Example Sentences

This meditative adagio is the work’s longest movement, and Olafsson stretched its darkling arabesques to more than 10 minutes.

From New York Times

Whatever happens in this trial, it will happen at a pace that makes an adagio tempo feel like an all-out sprint.

From Los Angeles Times

It takes a few tries, but the adagio comes.

From New York Times

Zelenskyy then spoke briefly with the families, as a small orchestra played a mournful adagio.

From Seattle Times

The mournful molto adagio seemed to stretch time as the ensemble coalesced into rich, golden chords, with Setzer tracing graceful lines around them.

From Washington Post