What does "come" mean in a musical directive?

In a musical directive, the term "come" is derived from the Italian word "come," which translates to "as" in English. This word is used to indicate similarity or manner and is often found in phrases describing how a passage should be played. For example, a directive might specify "come prima," meaning 'as before,' signaling the musician to return to the original style of playing after a contrasting section. Understanding this context helps clarify the role of "come" as a directive that conveys a specific musical instruction related to expression or interpretation.