mere
mere
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "mere" is:
/mɪər/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
mɪ:
/m/: voiced bilabial nasal consonant
/ɪ/: near-close near-front unrounded vowel
ər:
/ər/: voiced alveolar approximant followed by a schwa vowel
Word Form Variations
The word "mere" doesn't have plural or singular forms. It's an adjective that is used to emphasize how small, insignificant, or inadequate something is.
As an adjective:
"a mere child"
"the mere thought of it"
As part of a compound noun:
"mere accessory"
"mere acquaintance"
There is a comparative form, "merer," but it's rarely used in modern English. The superlative form, "merest," is more common and is used to emphasize the extreme smallness or insignificance of something.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective
Definition: Very small or insignificant; only.
Synonyms: slight, trivial, paltry, negligible
Antonyms: significant, important, substantial, considerable
Example sentence:
"It was a mere scratch."
Noun
Definition: A small lake.
Synonyms: pond, pool, tarn
Antonyms: ocean, sea
Example sentence:
"They went fishing at the mere."
Examples of Use
Literature:
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a1 wife." Here, "single" is emphasized by "mere" to highlight the limited number of eligible bachelors.
J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye: "I was only thirteen, for Chrissake. I was a mere child." Holden Caulfield uses "mere" to emphasize his youth and innocence.
Newspapers and Online Publications:
The New York Times: "A mere 10% of Americans have a passport." (nytimes.com)
The Guardian: "The mere mention of his name sent shivers down her spine." (theguardian.com)
Entertainment:
Movies: In the movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," Gandalf refers to the Balrog as "a mere shadow of the darkness."
Television: In the TV show "Breaking Bad," Walter White often uses "mere" to downplay his accomplishments, such as "a mere chemist."
Music: In the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, the lyric "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" uses "just" in a similar way to "mere" to emphasize the surreal nature of the situation.
General Public Discourse:
Social media: "I only lost a mere $10 on that stock." (Twitter)
Everyday conversation: "It's just a mere scratch, really."
These examples demonstrate the versatility of the word "mere" in various contexts, from classic literature to modern-day social media. It's often used to emphasize smallness, insignificance, or triviality.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Mere
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Life is more than a mere existence." — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. A mere existence is not life." — Marcus Aurelius (paraphrased)
"The difference between mere management and true leadership is communication." — Winston Churchill
"A mere friend will agree with you, but a real friend will argue." — Russian Proverb
"Happiness is not a mere state of mind, but a profound experience of the soul." — Anonymous
"Words are but the mere shells of thoughts." — Anonymous
"A mere glimpse of truth is better than a long discourse of falsehood." — Anonymous
"The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its solution." — Albert Einstein
"It is a mere matter of belief that makes one man a king and another a beggar." — Anonymous
"Success is not a mere matter of chance; it is the result of intention, effort, and a refusal to be deterred by obstacles." — Anonymous
Etymology
The word "mere" has an interesting history. It comes from an old word that meant "sea" or "lake." Over time, the meaning changed. By the 14th century, it started to mean "pure" or "unmixed."
From there, it took on the meaning we use today, which is to emphasize how small or insignificant something is. So, when we say "a mere scratch," we're really saying it's a very tiny, unimportant scratch.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Mere
The word "mere" is typically used to emphasize the insignificance or triviality of something. Here are some common phrases and idioms that use "mere" or words with a similar meaning:
A mere trifle: This phrase is used to dismiss something as unimportant or insignificant.
A mere shadow of his former self: This phrase describes someone who has declined significantly in health, wealth, or power.
A mere pittance: This phrase refers to a very small amount of money.
A mere drop in the ocean: This phrase emphasizes the insignificance of a small contribution to a large problem.
A mere formality: This phrase indicates that something is insignificant or perfunctory.
While there aren't many idiomatic expressions that directly use "mere," its meaning can be conveyed through other words like "just," "only," or "simply." For example, "just a scratch" is similar to "a mere scratch."
It's worth noting that "mere" is often used in more formal or literary contexts. In everyday conversation, people might use simpler phrases like "just" or "only" to convey the same meaning.
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Source Information
Definition of mere from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
