very

ver•y

[[t]ˈvɛr i[/t]] adv. adj. (archaic)ver•i•er, ver•i•est.

1) in a high degree; extremely; exceedingly:

a very clever person[/ex]

2) (used as an intensive emphasizing superlatives or stressing identity or oppositeness):

the very best thing; in the very same place[/ex]

3) precise; particular:

That is the very item we want[/ex]

4) mere:

The very thought of it is distressing[/ex]

5) sheer; utter:

the very joy of living[/ex]

6) actual:

caught in the very act of stealing[/ex]

7) being such in the true or fullest sense of the term:

the very heart of the matter[/ex]

8) archaic

a) true; genuine

b) rightful or legitimate

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Etymology: 1200–50; ME < OF verai « L vērāx truthful; see veracious usage: Past participles that have become established as adjectives can, like most English adjectives, be modified by the adverb very: We were very concerned for your safety. very does not modify past participles that are clearly verbal; for example, The lid was very sealed is not an idiomatic construction, while The lid was very tightly sealed is. Confusion or controversy sometimes arises over whether a past participle is truly adjectival and thus able to be modified by very without an intervening adverb (as tightly in the last example above). However, there is rarely any objection to the use of this intervening adverb, no matter how the past participle is functioning. Such use often occurs in edited writing: We were very much relieved to find the children asleep. They were very greatly excited by the news.