Yesterday I became wrought with the idea that although the word "very" seems to be a fairly standard and unsophisticated word, it is a suprisingly complex and versatile word.

I was kept up late into the night with this on my mind. This morning Merriam Webster had this to say:

Main Entry: 1very
Pronunciation: 'ver-E
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): veri·er; -est
Etymology: Middle English verray, verry, from Old French verai, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin veracus, alteration of Latin verac-, verax truthful, from verus true; akin to Old English w[AE]r true, Old High German wAra trust, care, Greek Era (accusative) favor
1 a : properly entitled to the name or designation : TRUE b : ACTUAL, REAL c : SIMPLE, PLAIN
2 a : being exactly as stated b : exactly suitable or necessary
3 a : ABSOLUTE, UTTER b : UNQUALIFIED, SHEER
4 -- used as an intensive especially to emphasize identity
5 : MERE, BARE
6 : being the same one : SELFSAME
7 : SPECIAL, PARTICULAR
synonym see SAME

Neat.

26 May 2005 - 11:20 AM

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