This paper focuses on the use of preverbal so in present-day English. While its as an intensifier (meaning ‘so much’ or ‘very much’) has been attested already Early Modern English ( OED online , s.v. adv. and conj., sense 15), it only recently acquired emphatic meaning (‘truly’ ‘definitely’, see 2005 Draft Additions). Compare: (1) I do love weddings. They're such joy. SOAP YR 2005) (2) I'm ditc...