(intensifier) used to add emphasis to adjectives that are able to be graded
very good
very tall
adjective(prenominal)
2.
(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 woman I want to see
his very name struck terror
the very back of the room
3.
(intensifier) used in metaphors to emphasize the applicability of the image to the situation described
he was a very lion in the fight
4. archaic
a.
real or true; genuine
the very living God
b.
lawful
the very vengeance of the gods
▶ 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 followthe verb to be, since they would then be technically qualifying verbs. With the exception of certainparticiples, such as tired or disappointed, that have come to be regarded as adjectives, all other past participles are qualifiedby adverbs such as much, greatly, seriously, or excessively: he has been much (not very) inconvenienced; she has been excessively (not too) criticized
Word origin
C13: from Old French verai true, from Latin vērax true, from vērus true