admodum

Admodum is a Latin adverb meaning roughly “to the same measure,” “in the same manner,” or more loosely, “very, exceedingly.” It functions as an intensifier or marker of degree, indicating that a quality or action is carried out to a notable extent. The word is formed from ad- “to” and modus “measure, manner,” and has attestations in classical, medieval, and later Latin texts.

Etymology and form: Admodum is a standalone adverb and does not function as a preposition. Its primary sense is quantitative or qualitative intensification, signaling that the described state approaches a standard of comparison or propriety. The phrase non admodum is used to mean “not very” or “not quite,” preserving a sense of moderation or limitation in the degree described.

Usage and nuance: In Latin prose and poetry, admodum can modify adjectives, participles, or verbs to emphasize extent or manner. The exact English rendering depends on context and may be translated as “very,” “indeed,” “to a great degree,” or “in a proper measure.” Its formal tone makes it more common in written Latin than in everyday speech, and it often appears in translations, grammatical discussions, or scholia.

Historical and scholarly context: Admodum appears throughout Latin literature, from Cicero to later authors, and is frequently discussed in grammars and dictionaries as an example of a degree adverb. In modern scholarly usage, it is primarily of interest for textual interpretation, Latin stylistics, and the history of Latin intensifiers rather than as a productive element of living language.

See also: Latin adverbs of degree, non admodum, tam, adeo.