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INTENSIFIER
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies
Example:
'honestly' in 'I honestly don't know' is an intensifier
Synonyms:
intensifier; intensive
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("intensifier" is a kind of...):
modifier; qualifier (a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb)
Domain member usage:
precious; preciously; goddam; goddamn; goddamned (extremely)
candidly; frankly; honestly ((used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that)
just; simply ((used for emphasis) absolutely)
ever; ever so ((intensifier for adjectives) very)
marvellously; marvelously; superbly; terrifically; toppingly; wonderfully; wondrous; wondrously ((used as an intensifier) extremely well)
positively (extremely)
such (to so extreme a degree)
so (to a very great extent or degree)
hellishly; infernally (extremely)
most (very)
literally ((intensifier before a figurative expression) without exaggeration)
downright (thoroughgoing)
deadly; deucedly; devilishly; insanely; madly ((used as intensives) extremely)
in truth; really; truly (in fact (used as intensifiers or sentence modifiers))
mightily; mighty; powerful; right ((Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree)
all-fired; all-firedly; bloody; damn (extremely)
well ((used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully)
every last ((used as intensive) every)
living ((informal) absolute)
Derivation:
intensify (make more intense, stronger, or more marked)
