As a musical direction: sad, mournful. Also as adverb: sadly, mournfully.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Busby (1754–1838), composer and author. From Italian mesto sad from classical Latin maestus sad, mournful.
Definition of mesto in US English:
mesto
adjectiveˈmɛstəʊ
Music
As a musical direction: sad, mournful. Also as adverb: sadly, mournfully.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Busby (1754–1838), composer and author. From Italian mesto sad from classical Latin maestus sad, mournful.