dear en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (London) audio
- /dɪə/ (General-South-African)
- audio North Carolina
- /dɪə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /dɛː/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
- (South-Africa) audio
- /dɪɹ/ (General-American)
- (California) audio
- (Texas) audio
- audio Connecticut
- /dɪə/ (Australia)
- /diːɹ/ (Scotland)
- /diə/ (New-Zealand)
Etymology
From Middle English dere, from Old English dēore, dīere, dīore, dȳre (“of great value or excellence, expensive, beloved”), from Proto-West Germanic *diurī, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz (“dear, precious; expensive”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn; hot, warm”). Cognates Cognate with Yola dear (“dear”), Saterland Frisian djuur (“precious, dear, costly, expensive”), Alemannic German tüür (“expensive”), Dutch dier, duur (“expensive”), German teuer (“expensive”), Vilamovian taojer, tojer (“dear”), West Flemish diere (“expensive”), Yiddish טײַער (tayer, “expensive”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish dyr (“expensive”), Faroese dýrur (“expensive”), Icelandic dýr (“expensive”), Finnish tyyris (“expensive”), Livonian tõurõz (“dear”), Northern Sami divrras (“expensive”).
Meanings
-
(Ireland, UK, qualifier:NZ (dated)) High in price; expensive.
This water is sold for 50 cents per ton, which is not dear under the circumstances.
1902, Briquettes as Fuel in Foreign Countries (report of the United States Bureau of Foreign Commerce)There's more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation: Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.
c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.
Every summer we can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear.
1966, The Beatles, “When I'm Sixty-Four”:
-
Loved; lovable.
"We shall have to put up with whitebait. And, of course, a dear little chicken with peas and roast potatoes."
1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 129:So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:"Yes, children dear, wait a bit till it turns itself," she answered - she ought to have said "till I turn it"[.]
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 62:
-
Lovely; kind.
"I've never met the kind of man I mean." "Tell me about him. What does he look like?" "Oh, he might look very much like you." "How dear of you to say that!"
1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:
-
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!
[…] dear as sacramental wine To dying lips is all he said […].
1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 58:
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A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.
Dearest Joseph/son:...
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.
“A very welcome, kind, useful present, that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing.[…]”
1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC: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 or someone one dislikes.
My dear man, you ought to think twice about who you're trying to blackmail.
- (obsolete) Noble.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more dear | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| dearer | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| dearest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| deere | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| most dear | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| deare | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
dearish · endearing · Dear Colleague letter · dearling · please excuse my dear Aunt Sally · elementary, my dear Watson · dearness · undear · dear diary · dearth · dear Lord · unendearing · old dear · endearer · hold dear · dear sirs · dearsome · deary · nearest and dearest · dearie · dear God · overdear · near and dear · dearly · Dear Jane letter · dearworth · dear Sir · my dear fellow · for dear life · dearheart · dear heart · dear me · endearment · endear
Relateds
Synonyms
loved · openhearted · warm · nice · good · kind · lickpenny · prizable · greathearted · kindsome · ex · pricey · forbearing · good-natured · benign · dear · magnanimous · philanthropic · worth every penny · expenny · million-dollar · caring · fond · kind · lovely · soft · dispendious · affectionate · noble · treasured · lovable · humane · gentle · spenny · big-ticket · benevolent · expensive · compassionate · lovely · softhearted · good-natured · tenderhearted · out of sight · cordial · cordial · dear · worthy · brotherly · valuable · merciful · gracious · lief · warm-hearted · friendly · warm-hearted · respected · attentive · great · high-cost · nice · lief · splurgy · affable · estimable · good-tempered · special · tender · warmhearted · considerate · loving · generous · worthly · dear · steep · unsparing · exy · sympathetic · tenderhearted · kindhearted · costly · unselfish · dearthful · cordial · costly · spenno · cheap at half the price · fancy · understanding · tolerant · without price · forgiving · high-priced · good-hearted · goodhearted · clement · benign · dear · patient · princely · chargeful · pleasant · kindhearted · hearty · lovewende · friendly · tender · altruistic · pitying · humanitarian · benignant · cost-prohibitive · overdear · thoughtful · costful · precious · lenient · precious · cherished · spenny · spendy · worthy · lickpenny · beloved · charitable · fond · mild · favoured · treasurous · softhearted · ruinous · 5-star · soft · heartfelt
Translations (337)
pdt leef (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · eo aminda (loved; lovable) · fi rakas (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · fur čhâr (loved; lovable) · ja 愛しい (loved; lovable) · ru це́нный (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · cmn 親愛的 /亲爱的 (formal way of addressing) · ga a chairde (formal way of addressing) · fi hyvä (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · sk milý (loved; lovable) · ar عَزِيز (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · hy սիրելի (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · pt caro (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · ist caro (loved; lovable) · de sehr geehrter/sehr geehrte (formal way of addressing) · mn хайрт (loved; lovable) · ro dragă (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · bg драг (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · fa عزیز (formal way of addressing) · ja へ (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · nl (mijn) beste (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · mk драг (formal way of addressing) · ja 恋しい (loved; lovable) · lv mīļš (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · pt caro (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · pt caro (loved; lovable) · hu kedves (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · es compa mío (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · cmn 親愛的 /亲爱的 (loved; lovable) · ga dílis (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · tr sevimli (loved; lovable) · sk vážený (formal way of addressing) · ckb خۆشەویست (loved; lovable) · es maestro mío (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · ckb بەڕێز (formal way of addressing) · ja 親愛なる (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · ps ګران (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · pl drogi (loved; lovable) · ta அன்புக்குரிய (formal way of addressing) · hi प्रिय (formal way of addressing) · uk дороги́й (formal way of addressing) · io kara (loved; lovable) · es cuate (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · cmn 昂貴的 /昂贵的 (formal way of addressing) · el αγαπητός (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · fi hyvä (formal way of addressing) · fa گرامی (loved; lovable) · dlm cur (loved; lovable) · cy annwyl (formal way of addressing) · ru дорога́я (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · it caro (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · ru дорого́й (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · pl drogi (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · no kjær (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · grc φίλος (loved; lovable) · gsw lieb (loved; lovable) · hy թանկ (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · cu любъ (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ca benvolgut (loved; lovable) · es caro (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · ca estimat (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · cs drahý (formal way of addressing) · hu kedves (loved; lovable) · lt mielas (loved; lovable) · vi thân (loved; lovable) · dsb luby (loved; lovable) · vi thân mến (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · be шано́ўны (formal way of addressing) · sv kära (formal way of addressing) · lv mīļš (loved; lovable) · bg любим (loved; lovable) · el αγαπημένος (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · sa प्रिय (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · fur cjâr (loved; lovable) · de Lieber (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · pl luby (loved; lovable) · nl precieus (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · srn lobi (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · mn хүндэт (formal way of addressing) · gsw tüür (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ar عَزِيز (formal way of addressing) · ro scump (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ckb ئازیز (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ps ګران (loved; lovable) · vi thân mến (loved; lovable) · pt caro (formal way of addressing) · el αγαπητή (formal way of addressing) · es querido (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · hu drága (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · es señora mía (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · ro stimate (formal way of addressing) · alt сӱӱген (loved; lovable) · ps ګران (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · sv kär (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · af beste (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · cs milý (loved; lovable) · be мі́лы (loved; lovable) · ur عزیز (loved; lovable) · nl lieve (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · pl drogi (formal way of addressing) · th เรียน (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · sl dragi (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · be дарагі́ (loved; lovable) · fr cher (loved; lovable) · lt brangus (loved; lovable) · es amable (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · gd ionmhainn (loved; lovable) · txb laraṣke (loved; lovable) · ru дорого́й (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · pt querido (loved; lovable) · gd ionmhainn (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · be паважа́ны (formal way of addressing) · wa binamé (formal way of addressing) · cu любъ (loved; lovable) · ta அன்பே (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · vi thưa (formal way of addressing) · ur عزیز (formal way of addressing) · ga dil (loved; lovable) · srn switi (loved; lovable) · ga a chara (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · nl lief (loved; lovable) · dlm cuora (loved; lovable) · sl dragi (formal way of addressing) · vi thân ái (loved; lovable) · uk шано́вний (formal way of addressing) · ar غَالِيَّة (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ota عزیز (formal way of addressing) · tr sevgili (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · nl weledele (formal way of addressing) · alt кыймат (loved; lovable) · fo góður (formal way of addressing) · dlm cuor (loved; lovable) · ota عزیز (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · cy annwyl (loved; lovable) · fi sydämellinen (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · ar عَزِيْزَة (formal way of addressing) · ca benvolgut (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ja 様 (formal way of addressing) · hu tisztelt (formal way of addressing) · vi thân ái (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · hu kedves (formal way of addressing) · it gentile (formal way of addressing) · pt prezado (formal way of addressing) · bg уважа́ем (formal way of addressing) · es estimada (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · es amigo mío (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · es compadre (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · srn lobi (loved; lovable) · ro drag (loved; lovable) · hi आदरणीय (formal way of addressing) · de lieber (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · pt caro (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · de lieb (loved; lovable) · fr cher (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · hu kedves (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · uk дороги́й (loved; lovable) · ps ګران (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · es estimado (formal way of addressing) · ang dīere (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ga a chara (formal way of addressing) · be лю́бы (loved; lovable) · es guapo (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · nl innig (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · txb lāre (loved; lovable) · ga a chairde (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · cmn 尊敬的 (formal way of addressing) · fi tärkeä (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ru уважа́емый (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · es señor mío (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · oc estimat (loved; lovable) · fi rakas (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · hy թանկագին (loved; lovable) · mk драг (loved; lovable) · da dyrebar (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · te ప్రియమైన (formal way of addressing) · bg драг (formal way of addressing) · ce хьомсара (loved; lovable) · tl mahal (loved; lovable) · es estimado (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · af geliefde (loved; lovable) · ota عزیز (loved; lovable) · nl liefdevol (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · uk лю́бий (loved; lovable) · ru уважа́емый (formal way of addressing) · got 𐍃𐍅𐌴𐍂𐍃 (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ps ګران (formal way of addressing) · atv кыйбат (loved; lovable) · sh поштовани (formal way of addressing) · ang dīere (loved; lovable) · no kjære (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · hu drága (loved; lovable) · no kjær (loved; lovable) · ne प्रिय (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · es caro (loved; lovable) · es precioso (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · tr sevgili (loved; lovable) · uk ми́лий (loved; lovable) · nl beminnelijk (loved; lovable) · ar عَزِيْزَة (loved; lovable) · az əziz (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · fi arvon (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · bg драг (loved; lovable) · nl (teer)geliefd (loved; lovable) · fi arvon (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · vi kính thưa (formal way of addressing) · be дарагі́ (formal way of addressing) · nl waardevol (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · el αγαπητέ (formal way of addressing) · fi rakas (loved; lovable) · fa فری (loved; lovable) · hu édes (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · hy մեծարգո (formal way of addressing) · cy annwyl (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ckb گیان (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · sh poštovani (formal way of addressing) · mk мил (loved; lovable) · es estimado (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · akl mahae (loved; lovable) · got 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍆𐍃 (loved; lovable) · ce хьоме (loved; lovable) · bg мил (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · cmn 親愛的 /亲爱的 (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · hy հարգելի (formal way of addressing) · nl duur (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · fo kærur (formal way of addressing) · pt cara (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · lv cienītais (formal way of addressing) · fa عزیز (loved; lovable) · wa binamé (loved; lovable) · sv kär (loved; lovable) · fi arvoisa (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · nl hooggeachte (formal way of addressing) · nl dierbaar (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ar عَزِيز (loved; lovable) · gd ionmhainn (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · ca estimat (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · fr cher (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · fi arvokas (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · nl beste (formal way of addressing) · nl geachte (formal way of addressing) · cy annwyl (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · ur پیارا (loved; lovable) · lmo car (loved; lovable) · sk drahý (loved; lovable) · lt gerbiamas (formal way of addressing) · fi rakas (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · fi arvoisa (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · fi rakas (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · nl geliefd (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ar غَالِي (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · hi प्यारा (loved; lovable) · hi आदरणीय (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · eo kara (loved; lovable) · az dəyərli (formal way of addressing) · pt querido (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · ru люби́мый (loved; lovable) · mk мил (formal way of addressing) · hu kedves (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · ca estimat (loved; lovable) · hi प्यारा (formal way of addressing) · as মৰমৰ (loved; lovable) · es querido (loved; lovable) · nl waarde (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · ru дорого́й (formal way of addressing) · no ærede (formal way of addressing) · hi प्रिय (loved; lovable) · cmn 親愛的 /亲爱的 (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · da kære (loved; lovable) · vo löfik (loved; lovable) · ar عَزِيْزَة (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · el αγαπητός (loved; lovable) · ps ګران (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · nl gekoesterd (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ne प्रिय (loved; lovable) · cjs қайран (loved; lovable) · es amiga mía (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · pt querido (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · nv aháláaneʼ (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · hy սիրելի (formal way of addressing) · ja 拝啓 (formal way of addressing) · lt mylimas (loved; lovable) · hi प्यारा (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · fr cher (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · oc car (loved; lovable) · bg скъп (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · it caro (loved; lovable) · mn эрхэм (formal way of addressing) · nl lieve (an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line) · pl szanowny (formal way of addressing) · vec caro (loved; lovable) · ga ionúin (loved; lovable) · ga ionúin (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · nl beste (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · tr sayın (formal way of addressing) · is kær (loved; lovable) · hi प्रिय (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · hy թանկագին (a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly) · cs drahý (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · sl drag (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · cs drahý (loved; lovable) · af beste (formal way of addressing) · fi parahin (formal way of addressing) · ca estimat (formal way of addressing) · sk drahý (formal way of addressing) · mn эрхэм хүндэт (formal way of addressing) · ga dil (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · ca benvolgut (formal way of addressing) · tyv эргим (loved; lovable) · srn lespeki (formal way of addressing) · de teuer (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · la cārus (loved; lovable) · es majo (an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior) · hy սիրելի (loved; lovable) · nl waarde (formal way of addressing) · bg скъп (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · pdt dia (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · fr cher (formal way of addressing) · he יַקִּיר (loved; lovable) · lv dārgs (loved; lovable) · ga dílis (loved; lovable) · pdt leef (loved; lovable) · es tierno (loving, affectionate, heartfelt) · sl drag (loved; lovable) · bg мил (loved; lovable) · km ជូនចំពោះ (formal way of addressing) · nl bemind (loved; lovable) · ru дорого́й (loved; lovable) · pl kochany (loved; lovable) · az hörmətli (formal way of addressing) · da kære (formal way of addressing) · ru дорого́й (precious to or greatly valued by someone) · nl kostbaar (loved; lovable) · cu драгъ (loved; lovable) · ru ми́лый (loved; lovable) · ang lēof (loved; lovable) · it egregio (formal way of addressing) · fi hellä (loving, affectionate, heartfelt)