ipsissima verba

[ ip-sis-si-mah wer-bah; English ip-sis-uh-muh vur-buh ]

adverb

1. with the very words; verbatim.

noun

1. the very words.

ipsissima verba

/ ɪpˈsɪsɪmə ˈvɜːbə /

plural noun

1. the very words; verbatim

Word History and Origins

Origin of ipsissima verba¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin ipsissima, neuter plural of ipsissimus “the very same” (superlative of ipse “oneself, the very one”) + verba, plural of verbum “word”; ipso facto ( def ), verbal ( def )

Example Sentences

Those books may be extremely useful for our own instruction, but they are worse than useless if we are in conflict with a Romish controversialist; if we wish to be strong on such an occasion we must appeal to the “ipsissima verba” of some authoritative document, such as the decrees of the Council of Trent, or the Creed of Pope Pius IV. 

From Project Gutenberg

In order to be admitted into the clerical caste and have holy hands laid upon his youthful head he must believe or profess to believe, ipsissima verba, just what the “Confession” and “Catechism” contain.

From Project Gutenberg

To the modern mind such a use of Scripture is unwarrantable and seems to imply essential indifference to its real value, but in Clement and his contemporaries it is not inconsistent with—indeed, it is indicative of—a high sense of the value of Scripture as the ipsissima verba of God.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the Aramaic words, which the church cherished from the first as the ipsissima verba of Jesus, was Abba.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, in respect of the ipsissima verba of Scripture, the evidence of Versions in other languages must be precarious in a high degree.

From Project Gutenberg