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presto (adv.)
1590s, "quickly, immediately," a word used by conjurers, etc., from Italian presto "quick, quickly" in conjuror's patter, from Latin praestus "ready," praesto (adv.) "ready, available," from prae "before" (see pre-) + stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm." Compare Latin praesto esse "to be at hand, be ready," source of French prêt "ready," and compare press (v.2). As a musical direction, "in rapid tempo," it is a separate borrowing from Italian, first recorded 1680s (Purcell).
also from 1590s
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Trends of presto
updated on October 28, 2020
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Prester John
prestidigitation
prestidigitator
prestige
prestigious
presto
presumable
presumably
presume
presumption
presumptive