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a·da·gio

(ə-däjō, -jē-ō′, -zhō, -zhē-ō)

adv. & adj.
Music

In a slow tempo, usually considered to be slower than andante but faster than larghetto. Used chiefly as a direction.

n. pl. a·da·gios

1. Music A slow passage, movement, or work, especially one using adagio as the direction.

a. A section of a pas de deux in which the ballerina and her partner perform steps requiring lyricism and great skill in lifting, balancing, and turning.

b. A succession of slow, fluid movements performed as an exercise in ballet.

[Italian : ad-, at (from Latin; see AD-) + agio, ease (from Old Provençal aize; akin to Old French aise; see EASE).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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