per se

[prettygoodword]

per se (pur SAY, pur SEE) - adv., by, of, for, or in itself.


Generally used to distinguish between something in its narrow sense and some larger thing that it represents: "I'm not against educational testing per se, but how it is being implemented." Originally used in a legal sense. Taken in the mid-16th century from Latin per sē, in itself, itself a calque of Ancient Greek kath’ autó.

---L.

Comments

[conuly]

And also part of the etymology of the word "ampersand".

[prettygoodword]

So it is!