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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Very

Vĕr'y, a.

adjective

a. [O. Eng. veray, verray, O. Fr. verai, vrai, N. Fr. vrai, Pr. verai, from Lat. verax, true, veracious, q. v.] True; real; actual. “Whether thou be my very son Esau or not.” Gen. xxvii. 21.

He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Prov. xvii. 9.

I looked on the consideration of public service or public ornament to be real and very justice. Burke.

There is a very life in our despair. Byron.

☞ Very is sometimes used to make the word with which it is connected emphatic, and may then be paraphrased by same, self-same, itself, and the like. “His very friend.” Shak. “The very lime-twigs of his spells.” Milton.

Vĕr'y, adv.

adverb

adv. In a high degree; to no small extent; exceedingly; excessively; as, a very great mountain; a very bright sun; a very cold day; a very pernicious war; a very benevolent disposition; the river flows very rapidly.

☞ Before participles, very is followed by much, or, more rarely, by some nearly equivalent adverb; as, very much hurt; very greatly surprised; very far gone.