Very

How often do you use the word ‘very’?
 
It’s very chilly today. She is a very pleasant person. I had a very good dinner last night. I love her very much. That’s a very small window. He has been here for a very long time. This book is very important. I know very little about that topic. One website I checked provided 500 such sentences using very in slightly different or very different usages.
 
The word very came to Middle English in the late 13th century as verray (true, real, genuine) from Old French verai (true, truthful, sincere; right, just, legal) and Latin verax, veracis (truthful, veracity). The word very has its origins in Proto-Indo-European (PIE) were-o (true, trustworthy).
 
The word verily, meaning ‘in truth’, from the early 14th century, is also from Middle English verray.
 
Very, as an ‘intensifier, meaning greatly or extremely, is from the mid-15th century.
 
In brief, to say, “That’s very true” is like saying, “That’s truly true.”
 
-o-
 
So, why the image of a tree? The words true and tree come from the very same ancient source: PIE deru (to be firm, solid, steadfast). To me, that connection provides a very illuminating insight into how the ancient Indo-Europeans thought about true and truth. Just saying…
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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