.

(6) Assertion, telling the speaker's belief or disbelief in a
statement, or how far he believes it to be true; as _perhaps_,
_maybe_, _surely_, _possibly_, _probably_, _not_, etc.

[Sidenote: _Special remarks on adverbs of degree._]

283. The is an adverb of degree when it limits an adjective or an
adverb, especially the comparative of these words; thus,--

But not _the_ less the blare of the tumultuous organ wrought its
own separate creations.--DE QUINCEY.

_The_ more they multiply, _the_ more friends you will have; _the_
more evidently they love liberty, _the_ more perfect will be
their obedience.--BURKE.

This and that are very common as adverbs in spoken English, and
not infrequently are found in literary English; for example,--

The master...was for _this_ once of her opinion.--R. LOUIS
STEVENSON.

Death! To die! I owe _that_ much To what, at least, I
was.--BROWNING.

_This_ long's the text.--SHAKESPEARE.

[Sidenote _The status of such_.]

Such is frequently used as an equivalent of _so_: _such_ precedes an
adjective with its noun, while _so_ precedes only the adjective
usually.

Meekness,...which gained him _such_ universal
popularity.--IRVING.

_Such_ a glittering appearance that no ordinary man would have
been able to close his eyes there.--HAWTHORNE.

An eye of _such_ piercing brightness and _such_ commanding power
that it gave an air of inspiration.--LECKY.

So also in Grote, Emerson, Thackeray, Motley, White, and others.

[Sidenote: _Pretty._]

Pretty has a wider adverbial use than it gets credit for.

I believe our astonishment is _pretty_ equal.--FIELDING.

Hard blows and hard money, the feel of both of which you know
_pretty_ well by now.--KINGSLEY.

The first of these generals is _pretty_ generally recognized as
the greatest military genius that ever lived.--BAYNE.

A _pretty_ large experience.--THACKERAY.

_Pretty_ is also used by Prescott, Franklin, De Quincey, Defoe,
Dickens, Kingsley, Burke, Emerson, Aldrich, Holmes, and other writers.

[Sidenote: Mighty.]

The adverb mighty is very common in colloquial English; for example,--

"_Mighty_ well, Deacon Gookin!" replied the solemn tones of the
minister.--HAWTHORNE.

"Maybe you're wanting to get over?--anybody sick? Ye seem
_mighty_ anxious!"--H.B. STOWE.

It is only occasionally used in