lesto

quick

adjective LEH-stoh Rare

Origin: From Old Italian, possibly from Germanic lust, 'desire, readiness'.

Also means

nimble

Usage Note

Lesto means quick, agile, and ready to act — it carries a connotation of dexterity as well as speed. Lesto di mano ('light-fingered') is an idiom meaning someone who steals or who moves their hands quickly. It is more colloquial and vivid than veloce (fast) or rapido (rapid). Feminine: lesta; plural: lesti/leste.

Examples

"Il gatto è lesto e agile nei movimenti."

Natural Translation

The cat is quick and agile in its movements.

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