Terms Affecting the Tempo and Time-Beating

Accelerando

Gradually increasing the tempo

Ad libitum

At liberty; take time, permit liberties here

Affrettando

Excitedly, increasing the tempo

A punto

Exactly in rhythm

Con alcuna licenza

With some license; not perfectly rhythmic

Etwas langsamer

Somewhat slower

Im Takt

In tempo

Langsam, Langsamer

Slow, slower

Massig

Moderato

Pressando

Hurrying, pressing forward

Rythme

Rhythmic feeling emphasized 

Rubato

Varying the note values within the rhythm, not strictly as written

Stretto

Condensing, accelerating the tempo. (Do not confuse with the stretto of the fugue form, which is only a condensing of the distance between subject and answer)

Stringendo

Accelerating the tempo

Suivez

Follow; usually refers to following the soloist who may take some liberties with the tempo for expression

Tacet

Silent; usually means the particular instrument does not play in that movement of the work

Taglio

A cut

Takt

The time, the measure, rhythmically; sometimes, an accenting of the first beat in the measure

Tempo rubato

not strictly in tempo

Zuruckhalten

Literally, holding back. Ritard.

agogic

general classification for the modifying of the tempo in favor of the expression