very (vĕr′y̆), adjective [comparative Verier (vĕr′ĭ-ẽr); superlative Veriest.] [OE. verai, verray, OF. verai, vrai, F. vrai, (assumed) LL. veracus, for L. verax true, veracious, fr. verus true; akin to OHG. & OS. wār, G. wahr, D. waar; perhaps originally, that is or exists, and akin to E. was. Cf. Aver, transitive verb, Veracious, Verdict, Verity.] True; real; actual; veritable.

Whether thou be my very son Esau or not. Gen. xxvii. 21.

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Prov. xvii. 9.

The very essence of truth is plainness and brightness. Milton.

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

☞ 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.

“The very hand, the very words.” Shak.

“The very rats instinctively have quit it.” Shak.

“Yea, there where very desolation dwells.” Milton.

Very is used occasionally in the comparative degree, and more frequently in the superlative.

“Was not my lord the verier wag of the two?” Shak.

“The veriest hermit in the nation.” Pope.

“He had spoken the very truth, and transformed it into the veriest falsehood.” Hawthorne.

Very Reverend

> See the Note under Reverend.

Ver′y (vĕr′y̆), adverb In a high degree; to no small extent; exceedingly; excessively; extremely; as, a very great mountain; a very bright sun; a very cold day; the river flows very rapidly; he was very much hurt.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913