prestissimo

[ pre-stis-uh-moh; Italian pre-stees-see-maw ]

/ prɛˈstɪs əˌmoʊ; Italian prɛˈstis siˌmɔ /

(a musical direction) in the most rapid tempo.

Origin of prestissimo

1715–25; < Italian: most quickly, superlative of presto presto

Sebastiano quickened the time till he was playing it prestissimo.

The Call of the Blood |Robert Smythe Hichens
When one dies them, four or five times a week, he longs to hasten the course of events, to change the Andante to a Prestissimo.

The Dominant Strain |Anna Chapin Ray
All this leads to a prestissimo finale of startling splendour.

Franz Liszt |James Huneker
Here the baby was kissed crescendo, prestissimo, till he laughed more than ever.

The Judgment of Eve |May Sinclair

Presto, prestissimo, vivacissimo, and prestissimo possibile—the most rapid tempo possible.

Music Notation and Terminology |Karl W. Gehrkens

prestissimo

/ (prɛˈstɪsɪˌməʊ) music /

to be played as fast as possible

a piece or passage directed to be played in this way

C18: from Italian: very quickly, from presto fast