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What's the route by which the adverb very with the meaning "a whole lot", became an adjective meaning "ideal" or "exemplary"?
I'm thinking of exclamations "The very idea of putting mustard on waffles!" or sentences like "If you want a pet that combines homeliness with exoticity, the capybara is the very beast for you."
I don't really see how this meaning could have arisen from the more conventional use of the word.
I think I understand your question. I have long known that very comes from the same root as verity meaning truth (see Nicene Creed below). Many of the uses can be loosely associated with that meaning of truth, including the modern use as a general intensifier extremely.
He is very tall.
He is truly tall.
Or as in the Nicene Creed:
"… very God from very God, … ." (Now generally " … true God from true God, … .")
But, for the uses you bring up, that association is strained. I see your two examples as slightly different uses, and I can think of a third similar use. As in Kramer's story on Seinfeld: " … the very pants he was about to return!"
These three uses are harder for me to connect with true: 1) an intensifier of incredulity 2) an intensifier of fitness or exactness 3) (my example) an intensifier of identity — the selfsame.
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the most common modern use, extremely, is the newest (mid-15c.). Later than the meaning of true, secondary meanings of actual and sheer creep in a little later (14c.). very
Actual works for me with 2) and 3) above. Sheer works for me with 1) above.
We may not know the very mechanism by which these very meanings came to very, but they appear to be very well established.
Glenn said:
. . . I can think of a third similar use. As in Kramer's story on Seinfeld: " … the very pants he was about to return!"
Amazing. That's one of the Kramer stories he sort-of sold to Peterman. I just returned to watching old Seinfeld episodes after I was burned out on syndication of the (greatest) show in the 90s, and that quote was wonderful. Upon re-watching (for maybe a fourth or fifth time, thanks to that syndication), I don't know that any other show has ever paid more attention to the nuances of meanings of words or phrases in the English language (e.g., Elaine: "Tim Watley said, 'Why would Jerry bring anything?'"; Jerry says, "Wait a minute, did he say 'Why would Jerry bring anything?' Or did he say 'Why would Jerry bring anything?'" [Jerry wants to know if he's invited to the party.])
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