Collins English-English Dictionary

very ['vεrɪ]

1. 1. adv (intensifier) used to add emphasis to adjectives that are able to be graded

   very good

   very tall

2. 2. adj [prenominal] (intensifier) used with nouns preceded by a definite article or possessive determiner, in order to give emphasis to the significance, appropriateness or relevance of a noun in a particular context, or to give exaggerated intensity to certain nouns

   the very man I want to see

   his very name struck terror

   the very back of the room

3. 3. adj (intensifier) used in metaphors to emphasize the applicability of the image to the situation described

   he was a very lion in the fight

4. 4. adj [archaic] real or true; genuine

   the very living God

5. 5. adj lawful

   the very vengeance of the gods

6. 6. adj [Etymology] C13: from Old French verai true, from Latin verax true, from verus true

7. 7. adj [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