Main Entry:

¹pres·to

Pronunciation:

\ˈpres-(ˌ)tō\

Function:

interjection

Etymology:

Italian, quick, quickly, from Latin praestus ready, from praesto adverb, on hand; akin to Latin prae before — more at for

Date:

circa 1599

—used to indicate the sudden appearance or occurrence of something often as if by magic