Definition

1. Noun:
   • A word or phrase that adds emphasis or strength to another word's meaning: An intensifier is a grammatical modifier whose primary function is to increase the force or emphasis of the word it modifies, without adding significant independent meaning of its own.
   • A device or substance that increases strength or effect: In technical contexts, an intensifier can refer to a mechanical device or a chemical agent that amplifies a force, signal, or property.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Grammatical):
  • The word "very" is a common intensifier in English.
  • In the phrase "terribly sorry," "terribly" functions as an intensifier for the adjective "sorry."
  • "Up" in "finished up" is an intensifier.
  • "Honestly" in "I honestly don't know" is an intensifier.
• Noun (Technical):
  • The hydraulic system uses a pressure intensifier to boost the force.
  • This chemical acts as a dye intensifier in the photographic process.

Advanced Usage

• Positioning: Intensifiers typically appear immediately before the adjective or adverb they modify (e.g., hot, fast). However, some can appear in other positions for stylistic effect or in specific constructions.
• Degrees of Intensity: Some intensifiers are considered stronger than others. For example, "absolutely" or "utterly" are often stronger than "very" or "quite."
• Colloquial Use: In informal speech, intensifiers can be repetitive or hyperbolic (e.g., "I'm so, so, so tired").

Variants and Related Words

• Intensify (verb): To make or become more intense.
  • The winds began to intensify before the storm.
• Intensification (noun): The process of becoming more intense.
  • The intensification of the conflict was alarming.
• Intensive (adjective): Involving a lot of effort or concentration in a short time.
  • She took an intensive language course.

Synonyms

• Amplifier (particularly in technical contexts).
• Emphasizer.
• Strengthener.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Adverbial Intensifier: A specific type of intensifier that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
  • She ran incredibly quickly. (Here, "incredibly" is an adverbial intensifier modifying the adverb "quickly.")
• Downtoner: The opposite of an intensifier; a word that reduces the force of another word (e.g., "slightly," "a bit").
  • It's a bit cold. ("A bit" is a downtoner for "cold.")

Notes on Meaning

• The grammatical use is the most common in everyday language. Intensifiers like "very," "really," "so," "extremely," and "absolutely" are ubiquitous.
• It is important to distinguish an intensifier from a regular adverb that carries its own lexical meaning. For instance, in "He ran quickly," "quickly" describes the manner of running and is not merely an intensifier. In "He ran very quickly," "very" is the intensifier modifying "quickly."

Noun

1. a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies
   • `up' in `finished up' is an intensifier
   • `honestly' in `I honestly don't know' is an intensifier