Main Entry:

³mere

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

superlative mer·est

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin merus; akin to Old English āmerian to purify and perhaps to Greek marmairein to sparkle — more at morn

Date:

15th century

1: having no admixture : pure2obsolete : being nothing less than : absolute3: being nothing more than <a mere mortal> <a mere hint of spice>

— mere·ly adverb