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How did the word "dead" get to mean very?
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this doesn't exactly explain it but says it dates from the 15th century
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The OED suggests that it comes about by extension from terms such as 'dead asleep' or 'dead tired', where a comparison to death is actually being made.
The first definition of 'dead' as an adverb is given thus;
"In a manner, or to a degree, characteristic of or suggesting death; with extreme inactivity, stillness, etc.; utterly, profoundly, absolutely (as dead asleep, dead calm); to extremity, ‘to death’ (as dead run, dead tired)."
The dictionary then goes onto provide this second definition (based upon the first one):
"Hence more generally: Utterly, entirely, absolutely, quite. Esp. dead broke (see broke adj. 3a), dead certain, dead easy, dead frozen sure, dead level, dead right, dead sure. Now colloquial".
The first definition of 'dead' as an adverb is given thus;
"In a manner, or to a degree, characteristic of or suggesting death; with extreme inactivity, stillness, etc.; utterly, profoundly, absolutely (as dead asleep, dead calm); to extremity, ‘to death’ (as dead run, dead tired)."
The dictionary then goes onto provide this second definition (based upon the first one):
"Hence more generally: Utterly, entirely, absolutely, quite. Esp. dead broke (see broke adj. 3a), dead certain, dead easy, dead frozen sure, dead level, dead right, dead sure. Now colloquial".
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