deary en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈdɪɹi/ General American, mirror–nearer merger
- /ˈdiɹe/ (Scotland)
- /ˈdɪəɹi/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈdiɹi/ (US) without the mirror–nearer merger
- /ˈdiɹɪ/ (Scotland)
- /ˈdɪɚi/ (US) without the mirror–nearer merger
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈdiəɹi/ (New-Zealand)
- /ˈdɛːɹi/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
Etymology
From dear + -y.
Meanings
- (informal) A dear; a darling.
-
(informal) A term of address for a female.
Listen, deary: I'd appreciate your not talking about my son like that.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dearies | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| dearie | alternative | lexicographic |