"Nice and" expression question.

[kempermentor]

> zanooda
> Hi guys! I have another question for the English-speaking listees. Is
> it true that in the expression "nice and" with the following adjective
> (for example, "nice and warm" sweater) the word "nice" doesn't have
> it's own meaning, but just intensifies the second adjective? Some
> dictionaries explain it like this, but there is no detailed
> explanations with many examples, so I'm not sure. 
> 
...

Kemper now:
I interpret it to mean 'perfectly'.  In the sense that Goldilocks
finds Baby Bear's food/belongings, not too one way or the other.
So nice and supple means to me that the wand is at it's most efficient
degree of suppleness.

I don't know when 'nice and' entered the language, but 'nice' used to
mean 'precise' (along with many other meanings apparently) which is
kind of close to perfect.  Kind of.

Not really adding anything.

Kemper