An example of mere is using just a teaspoon of lemon for a gallon of cake batter.
- nothing more or other than; only (as said to be): a mere boy
- Obs. unmixed; pure
- Obs. absolute; downright
Origin of mereMiddle English ; from Classical Latin merus, unmixed, pure ; from Indo-European base an unverified form mer-, to sparkle from source morning, Old English amerian, to purify
- Old Poet. a lake or pond
- Brit., Dial. a marsh
- the sea
- an arm of the sea
Origin of mereMiddle English ; from OE: see mare
Origin of mereMiddle English ; from Old English (ge)mære ; from Indo-European base an unverified form mei-, to secure, a post, wooden wall from source Classical Latin murus, wall
Origin of -mere; from Classical Greek meros, a part: see merit
Origin of mereMiddle English, from Old English; see mori- in Indo-European roots.
Origin of -mereFrench -m&ebreve;re, from Greek meros, part; see (s)mer-2 in Indo-European roots.
- Being nothing more than what is specified: a mere child; a mere 50 cents an hour.
- Considered apart from anything else: shocked by the mere idea.
- Small; slight: could detect only the merest whisper.
- Obsolete Pure; unadulterated.
Origin of mereMiddle English, absolute, pure, from Old French mier, pure, from Latin merus.