veriest
[ver-ee-ist]
||
adjective
utmost; most complete: the veriest stupidity.
superlative of very.
Origin of veriest
very
[ver-ee]
adverb
adjective, (Obsolete) ver·i·er, ver·i·est.
Origin of very
1200–50; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French verai (French vrai) < Vulgar Latin *vērācus, for Latin vērāx truthful, equivalent to vēr(us) true (cognate with Old English wǣr, German wahr true, correct) + -āx adj. suffix
Synonyms for very
Usage note
Past participles that have become established as adjectives can, like most English adjectives, be modified by the adverb very : a very driven person; 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. Sometimes confusion arises over whether a given past participle is adjectival and thus able to be modified by very without an intervening adverb. 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. I feel very badly cheated.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for veriest
decidedly, particularly, absolutely, awfully, profoundly, excessively, remarkably, certainly, deeply, wonderfully, pretty, incredibly, eminently, uncommonly, truly, highly, extremely, extraordinarily, terribly, exceedinglyExamples from the Web for veriest
Historical Examples of veriest
All this must have seemed the veriest irony when addressed to an outcast Jew.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
Nothing was left of the wildebeeste save the head and the veriest offal.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
Your marriage to her can only be considered as the veriest mockery.
Cleo The MagnificentLouis Zangwill
For love will convert the veriest coward into an inspired hero.
SymposiumPlato
The veriest muck-worm in the market-place spat out at sight of him.
The ScapegoatHall Caine
veriest
adjective
very
adverb
adjective (prenominal)
Word Origin for very
C13: from Old French verai true, from Latin vērax true, from vērus true
usage
In strict usage adverbs of degree such as very, too, quite, really, and extremely are used only to qualify adjectives: he is very happy; she is too sad. By this rule, these words should not be used to qualify past participles that follow the verb to be, since they would then be technically qualifying verbs. With the exception of certain participles, such as tired or disappointed, that have come to be regarded as adjectives, all other past participles are qualified by adverbs such as much, greatly, seriously, or excessively: he has been much (not very) inconvenienced; she has been excessively (not too) criticized
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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very
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
very
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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