assai

¹ American  

[uh-sahy, ahs-sah-ee] / əˈsaɪ, ɑsˈsɑ i /

adverb

Music.

1. very.

   allegro assai (very quick).

---

assai ² American  

[uh-sah-ee] / əˈsɑ i /

noun

1. any of several slender Brazilian palms of the genus Euterpe, especially E. edulis, a species bearing a purple fruit from which a beverage is made by infusion.

---

assai ¹ British  

/ æˈsaɪ /

noun

1. any of several Brazilian palm trees of the genus Euterpe, esp E. edulis, that have small dark purple fleshy edible fruit

2. a beverage made from the fruit of this tree

---

assai ² British  

/ æˈsaɪ /

adverb

1. music (usually preceded by a musical direction) very

   allegro assai

---

Etymology

Origin of assai¹

First recorded in 1715–25; from Italian: literally, “enough,”ultimately from Latin ad “(up) to” + satis “enough.” See asset

Origin of assai²

1895–1900; < Portuguese < Tupi assaí

Example Sentences

Finally, the chorus ended the piece pomposo assai: "After hearing these instructions, you should be able to prepare your own return�unless you have complicated problems."

From Time Magazine Archive

By G. M. Bramo assai, poco, spero nulla chieggio.

From The English Husbandman The First Part: Contayning the Knowledge of the true Nature of euery Soyle within this Kingdome: how to Plow it; and the manner of the Plough, and other Instruments by Markham, Gervase

Eagerly she listened; and soon was rewarded by hearing Lyle's voice carolling pathetically down the road, the ditty, "Io ti voglio ben assai, Ma tu non pensi a me!"

From Olive A Novel by Bowers, G.

Another palm, the assai, afforded us an abundance of berries, about the size of a cranberry, and of a dark brown colour.

From The Wanderers Adventures in the Wilds of Trinidad and Orinoco by Perat

Clumps of the light and exquisitely graceful assai palm shot up everywhere.

From The Wanderers Adventures in the Wilds of Trinidad and Orinoco by Perat