adjective
dear·er, dear·est a. Loved and cherished: my dearest friend.
b. Greatly valued; precious: lost everything dear to them.
- Highly esteemed or regarded. Used in direct address, especially in salutations: Dear Lee Dawson.
a. High-priced; expensive.
b. Charging high prices.
- Earnest; ardent: “This good man was a dear lover and constant practicer of angling” ( Izaak Walton )
- Obsolete Noble; worthy.
- Heartfelt: It is my dearest wish.
noun
- A person who is greatly loved. Often used as a form of address.
- An endearing, lovable, or kind person: What a dear she is!
adverb
- With fondness; affectionately.
- At a high cost: sold their wares dear.
interjection
Used as a polite exclamation, chiefly of surprise or distress: oh dear; dear me.
Origin of dear
Middle English
dere from Old English
dēore Related Forms:
adjective
Severe; grievous; sore: our dearest need.
Origin of dear
Middle English
dere from Old English
dēor
Adjective (comparative dearer, superlative dearest)
- Loved; lovable.
- Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
- Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.
- Precious to or greatly valued by someone.
- The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!
- High in price; expensive.
- The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed?
- A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.
- Dear Sir/Madam/Miss, please notice our offices will be closed during the following bank holidays: […] .
- A formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly.
- My dear friend, I feel better as soon as you come sit beside my sickbed!
- An ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior.
- My dear boy, if your grades don't pick up I won't bounce you on but over my knee!
Noun (plural dears)
- A very kind, loving person.
- My cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.
- A beloved person
Verb (third-person singular simple present dears, present participle dearing, simple past and past participle deared)
- (obsolete) To endear.
Adverb (comparative more dear, superlative most dear)
- (obsolete) dearly; at a high price
Origin From Middle English dere, from Old English dēore. Cognate with Dutch duur (“costly, precious”), German teuer (“costly, precious”), Icelandic dýr (“expensive”), Norwegian dyr, Swedish dyr (“expensive”).
Adjective (comparative more dear, superlative most dear)
- Severe(ly affected), sore
Origin Middle English dere, from Old English dēor. Cognate with the above
