different between abracadabra vs presto

English

Etymology

From Late Latin abracadabra, a word used in magical writings, of uncertain origin. Relationships have been suggested with Abraxas (a Gnostic deity), and with various Aramaic or Hebrew terms ???? ?????? (avra kedavra, literally “what was said has come to pass”), ??????? ?????????? (avda kedavara, literally “what was said has been done”); ????-???-????? (arba-e?ad-arba, literally “four-one-four”), but there is little supporting evidence.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ab??k??dab??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?æ.b??.k??dæ.b??/

Noun

abracadabra (plural abracadabras)

1. A use of the mystical term ‘abracadabra’, supposed to work as part of a healing charm or a magical spell; any spell or incantation making use of the word. [from 16th c.]
2. Mumbo-jumbo; obscure language or technicalities; jargon. [from 19th c.]

Translations

Interjection

abracadabra

1. Used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed. [from 19th c.]

   Synonym: hey presto

Translations

Further reading

• abracadabra at OneLook Dictionary Search

References

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.b?a.ka.da.b?a/

Interjection

abracadabra

1. abracadabra

Derived terms

• abracadabrant

Noun

abracadabra m (plural abracadabras)

1. An unspecified magical formula.
2. (historical) A mystical word from kabbalism.

Further reading

• “abracadabra” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Portuguese

Interjection

abracadabra

1. abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed)

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ab?aka?dab?a/, [a.???a.ka?ð?a.???a]

Interjection

abracadabra

1. abracadabra

Usage notes

The Royal Spanish Academy notes that this is masculine, cf. other words of Greek origin that end in -a, such as diploma or idioma. They furthermore consider it a noun.

Further reading

• “abracadabra” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.

English

Etymology

From Italian presto (“quickly”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??st??/
• (US) enPR: pr?s't?, IPA^(key): /?p??sto?/
• Rhymes: -?st??

Adverb

presto (not comparable)

1. (music) Very fast or quickly; a directive for the musician(s) to play in a very quick tempo.

Interjection

presto

1. Used by magicians when performing a trick; ta-da; voilà.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• abracadabra

Noun

presto (uncountable)

1. (poker slang) A pair of fives as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em.

References

• Weisenberg, Michael (2000) The Official Dictionary of Poker. MGI/Mike Caro University. ?ISBN

Anagrams

• Portes, Strope, e-sport, eSport, esport, opster, opters, petros, poster, repost, repots, respot, sprote, topers, tropes

Catalan

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /?p?es.to/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /?p?es.tu/

Verb

presto

1. first-person singular present indicative form of prestar

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian presto.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p??s.to/

Adverb

presto

1. (music) presto
2. (colloquial) quickly

Derived terms

• illico presto

Further reading

• “presto” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pr?s.to/
• Rhymes: -?sto
• Hyphenation: prè?sto

Etymology 1

From Late Latin praestus, from the Latin praest? (“at hand”, adverb). Compare Catalan prest, French prêt.

Adjective

presto (feminine presta, masculine plural presti, feminine plural preste)

1. (literary) ready
2. (literary) fast, quick, nimble

Descendants

• ? French: preste

Adverb

presto

1. soon

   Synonyms: tra poco, fra poco

2. early

   Synonym: di buon'ora

3. quickly

   Synonyms: rapidamente, velocemente

4. (music) presto

Derived terms

Descendants

• ? English: presto

Etymology 2

Deverbal of prestare (“to lend”).

Noun

presto m (plural presti) (archaic)

1. loan

   Synonym: prestito

2. usury (practice of lending money at excessive interest rates)

   Synonym: usura

3. pawnshop

   Synonym: banco dei pegni

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the main entry.

Verb

presto

1. first-person singular present of prestare

Further reading

• presto¹ in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
• presto in Dizionario Italiano Olivetti

Anagrams

• sporte, spreto, spretò, sterpo, sterpò

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian presto (“ready”).

Adverb

presto

1. (music) presto

Noun

presto m (definite singular prestoen, indefinite plural prestoer, definite plural prestoene)

1. music being played presto

Usage notes

• Prior to a revision in 2020, this noun was also considered grammatically neuter.

References

• “presto” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian presto (“ready”).

Adverb

presto

1. (music) presto

Noun

presto m (definite singular prestoen, indefinite plural prestoar, definite plural prestoane)

1. music being played presto

References

• “presto” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Portuguese

Etymology 1

From Late Latin praestus, from the adverb praesto. Compare Catalan prest, Italian presto, French prêt. The meaning pertaining to music comes from Italian presto.

Adjective

presto m (feminine singular presta, masculine plural prestos, feminine plural prestas, comparable)

1. quick, swift, prompt
2. ready, prepared

Adverb

presto (comparative mais presto superlative o mais presto)

1. immediately, promptly
2. right away, at once
3. (music) presto

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the main entry.

Verb

presto

1. first-person singular (eu) present indicative of prestar

Serbo-Croatian

Alternative forms

• prijesto (Ijekavian)

Etymology

From pre- +? sto.

Alternative forms

• prijestol (Croatian)

Noun

pr?sto m (Cyrillic spelling ???????)

1. throne

Declension

Derived terms

• prijést?lje

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?esto/, [?p?es.t?o]

Etymology 1

From Late Latin praestus, from the adverb praesto. Compare Catalan prest, Italian presto, French prêt. The meaning pertaining to music comes from Italian presto.

Adjective

presto (feminine presta, masculine plural prestos, feminine plural prestas)

1. quick, swift, prompt
2. ready, prepared

Adverb

presto

1. immediately, promptly, soon
2. (music) presto
3. right away, at once

Derived terms

• aprestar

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the main entry.

Verb

presto

1. First-person singular (yo) present indicative form of prestar.

Further reading

• “presto” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.