A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

very (an intensifier); opp. 'somewhat' q.v.; cf. completely, exceptionally, especially, intensely; see exceedingly;

1. may be expressed by use of the adj. superlative ending, usually -issimus,-a,-um (adj.A)attached to the base of a Latin adjective); see Superlative degree of adjectives.

2. may be expressed by use of the adverb superlative ending as well as other adverbs: eximie (adv.): exceptionally, exceedingly, excellently; maxime 'in the highest degree,' valde 'strongly, very, intensely,' minime 'least of all,' magnopere 'greatly,' pessime, the worst, plurime, 'the most,' summe 'in the highest degree, most highly or greatly, extremely, to the utmost extent;'

- foliis piliis summe obtectis, with leaves with hairs covered to the highest degree.

- planta Rosae blandae maxime proxima, the plant extremely near to Rosa blanda.

- sporis maxime variabilibus, with spores very greatly variable.

3. adverbs modifying colors: distincte (adv.) 'clearly, definitely, distinctly, handsomely, elegantly;' fortius (adv.) more strongly or powerfully;' fortiter (adv.): 'strongly, vigorously;' laete (adv.), 'lightly, not severely, brightly, joyfully, rejoicingly;' lucide (adv.) 'brilliantly, dazzlingly, shiningly;' saturate (adv.) 'intensely, richly, fully (as opposed to dilute, pallide); vivide (adv.), 'lively, vigorous;'

- foliis intense viridibus, with leaves intensely green.

4. bene (adv.), comp. melius (adv.), superl. optime (adv.) 'best': well, quite, rightly, excellently; with adjectives and adverbs 'well, thoroughly;' intensifies other adverbs and adjectives; cf. sat (adv.), satis (adv.);

- bene penitus, (adv.) thoroughly within, deep inside, well within.

- bene robustus (adj.) thoroughly hard or solid.

- bene saepe, very often, quite often.

5. per-, q.v.: as a Latin prefix intensifies the adjective or adverb with which it is associated, 'very, extremely;'

perpusillus, very small;

NOTE: in color terms, it indicates intensity (deepness) of color:

perruber,-ra,-rum, deep red;

perviridis,-e, deep green;

peraurantiacus,-a,-um deep orange;

perinteger,-ra,-rum, thoroughly or completely entire (especially in a plant expected to be serrate, lobed, etc.);

NOTE: before a word beginning with 'l' the final letter in 'per' becomes an 'l': pellucidus: per + lucidus > pel-lucidus.

6. perquam (adv.): as much as possible, extremely, very, thoroughly;

- [Diderma; Myxomycetes (Slimemolds] fungilli perquam elegantes (S&A), fungill extremely elegant [i.e. neat and simple].

- genus Theobromae perquam affine (B&H), the genus is very much related to Theobroma.

- (fungus) peridium subdepressum, perquam multiforme (S&A), the peridium nearly depressed, with extremely many shapes.

7. prae-, q.v.: a Latin prefix meaning "very, extremely:" praealtus,-a,-um (adj.A) very high, very deep (altus); praecalidus,-a,-um (adj.A), very hot (calidus); praedulcis,-e (adj.B) very sweet, luscious;

- lamellis affixis percongestis angustissimis, the lamellae attached, very crowded, extremely narrow

- pertenuis, very thin; perpauciflorifer, bearing very few leaves.

- cellulae permagnae, the cells very large.

8. admodum (adv.) (of degree) fully, quite, completely, much;

- receptacula admodum nuda, receptacles quite naked;

9. nimie (adv.): too much excessively; very much, very;

- thorace hyphis nimie obtecto, with the thorax with hyphae exceedingly covered.

10. valde (adv.), q.v.: very, strongly;

- [Thalia] genus adhuc valde obscurum, Linneo non visum, ejusque character genéricus & essentialis a sola figura Plumieri concïnnatus (Swartz), a genus hitherto very obscure, not seen by Linneus, whose generic and essential character has arisen from a single drawing of Plumier’s .

11. eximie (adv.): eximie (adv.): exceptionally, exceedingly, excellently, uncommonly.

12. see za-: in Gk. comp., intensive and inseparable prefix, 'very, exceedingly;'so very: tam (adv.), tantum (adv.), q.v.