Very

adj, adv, name

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    True, real, actual. literary, not-comparable, usually

    "The fierce hatred of a very woman."

  2. 2
    The same; identical. not-comparable, usually

    "He proposed marriage in the same restaurant, at the very table where they first met."

  3. 3
    With limiting effect: mere. not-comparable, usually

    "The very idea of climbing the ladder brings me out in a sweat. The very idea/thought!"

Adjective
  1. 1
    precisely as stated wordnet
  2. 2
    being the exact same one; not any other: wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    To a great extent or degree. not-comparable

    "That dress is very you."

  2. 2
    Conforming to fact, reality or rule; true. not-comparable
  3. 3
    Used to firmly establish that nothing else surpasses in some respect. not-comparable

    "He was the very best runner there."

Adverb
  1. 1
    used to give emphasis wordnet
  2. 2
    precisely so wordnet
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname, variant of Verey.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English verray, from Old French verai (“true”), from Early Medieval Latin vērāgus, from Classical Latin vērāx, derived from vērus, from Proto-Italic *wēros, from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁ros. Distantly cognate with the Old English wǣr (“true”). Over time displaced the use of a number of Germanic words or prefixes to convey the sense 'very' such as fele, full-, mægen, sore, sin-, swith, (partially) wel.

Etymology 2

From Middle English verray, from Old French verai (“true”), from Early Medieval Latin vērāgus, from Classical Latin vērāx, derived from vērus, from Proto-Italic *wēros, from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁ros. Distantly cognate with the Old English wǣr (“true”). Over time displaced the use of a number of Germanic words or prefixes to convey the sense 'very' such as fele, full-, mægen, sore, sin-, swith, (partially) wel.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: very