per se — by or in itself; intrinsically; as such
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: by or in itself; intrinsically; as such
Pronunciation (IPA): /pər ˈseɪ/
Example Sentences
- Chocolate isn't bad per se, but eating 10 bars a day might be problematic.
- Social media per se isn't evil, but doom-scrolling at 3 AM definitely is.
- The contract per se is valid, but the circumstances surrounding it raise questions.
per se
ADVERB[/pər ˈseɪ/]
by or in itself; intrinsically; as such
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Direct borrowing from Latin, where 'per se' literally means 'through itself' or 'by itself.' Originally used in legal and philosophical contexts to distinguish something in its own right from its associations.
Breakdown
per (through/by means of) + se (itself/oneself) - used as a complete Latin phrase meaning 'in itself' or 'intrinsically'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Chocolate isn't bad per se, but eating 10 bars a day might be problematic.”
“Social media per se isn't evil, but doom-scrolling at 3 AM definitely is.”
“The contract per se is valid, but the circumstances surrounding it raise questions.”
“Being a perfectionist isn't wrong per se, but it can drive your friends crazy.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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