larghissimo

larghissimo means as slowly as possible.

Why “larghissimo” is a great word

An extreme tempo marking in music, indicating performance at the slowest conceivable speed. Borrowed from Italian larghissimo, the superlative of largo ("broad, slow"), from the suffix -issimo ("most, extremely"). Unlike largo (a broad, foundational slowness) or grave (a solemn, weighty deliberation), larghissimo denotes the absolute limit of deceleration, stripped of particular expressive coloring. It is the pace of tectonic plates drifting, of a single sustained note that seems to fray the air itself, or of the final, almost imperceptible settling of snow on an abandoned road—music aspiring to the stillness of sculpture, the moment before silence finally claims its due.

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian larghissimo.

adj

As slowly as possible.e.g.“Play larghissimo here; drag out every note.”

noun

The slowest tempo.

Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Words closest in meaning

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

allargando 67% match — Decreasing in tempo; getting slower. vs larghissimo →
assai 64% match — A tempo direction equivalent to "very". vs larghissimo →
largando 63% match — (To be played) gradually slower and broader. vs larghissimo →
maestoso 61% match — majestically vs larghissimo →
allegrissimo 60% match — A direction in musical notation indicating that the piece should be played very fast and lively. vs larghissimo →
adagissimo 60% match — Very slowly. vs larghissimo →
grandioso 60% match — A tempo mark directing that a passage is to be played in a grand and noble style vs larghissimo →
pianissimo 59% match — Indicating that the piece is to be played very softly. vs larghissimo →