særdeles

Særdeles is a Danish and Norwegian adverb used as a degree modifier, meaning in a particularly strong or notable way; exceptionally. It functions to amplify the meaning of an adjective or a past participle and is normally placed directly before the word it modifies. The term is common in formal or written Danish and Norwegian; in everyday speech speakers may opt for less formal intensifiers such as meget or ekstremt depending on context.

Etymology and usage details: Særdeles is derived from the adjective særlig, meaning special or particular. In contemporary usage, særdeles serves as an invariant adverb that precedes the modified adjective or participle (for example, særdeles vigtig opgave, særdeles vellykket kampagne). It does not inflect, and its placement is typically before the adjective it intensifies, though it can appear in predicative constructions: opgaven var særdeles vigtig.

Register and nuance: The word carries a formal or elevated tone and is more common in written Danish and Norwegian than in casual spoken language. It conveys a strong positive evaluation, but the degree can be adjusted by choosing other intensifiers such as meget (very) or ekstremt (extremely) when a less formal or more colloquial nuance is desired.

Examples:

- Denne rapport er særdeles grundig.

- Det var en særdeles vellykket kampagne.

- Opgaven var særdeles vigtig for projektets succes.

See also: related intensifiers in Danish such as særligt and bemærkelsesværdigt, which serve similar functions but with different nuances and formality.