assai

as·sai ¹  (ä-s)

n. pl. as·sais

1. Any of several feather-leaved South American palms, especially Euterpe edulis and E. oleracea, that are important sources of heart of palm.

2. A beverage made from the fleshy purple fruit of one of these palms.

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[Portuguese assaí, from Tupi assahi.]

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as·sai ²  (ä-s)

adv. Music

Very. Used in tempo directions: allegro assai.

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[Italian, from Vulgar Latin *ad satis, to sufficiency; see asset.]

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assai¹

adv

(Music, other) Music (usually preceded by a musical direction) very allegro assai

[Italian: enough]

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assai²

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several Brazilian palm trees of the genus Euterpe, esp E. edulis, that have small dark purple fleshy edible fruit

2. (Cookery) a beverage made from the fruit of this tree

[via Brazilian Portuguese from Tupi]