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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

the dear knows en · X

Etymology

Unclear. Bliss and Dolan suggest a conflation of dear, as in "oh dear" or "the Dear Lord", and deer, by analogy with the conflation in Irish of Fiadha "God" and fiadh "deer".

Meanings

  1. (Ireland, dated) God knows; nobody knows
    • And there it sits, spreading rubbish about because of the cats, and smelling like the Dear knows what. 2004, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, The Dear Departed, page 205:
    • O thou, whom poets call Melpomene, Who hast inspir'd, the dear knows how many In ancient times to sing O Dear O's On hapless fates of unknown heroes, 1806 'Caleb Thistle' "How are the mighty fallen!" in The Evening Fire-side; or Literary Miscellany (Philadelphia; 10 May 1806) Vol.II No.19 p.147
    • I know where I’m going, I know who’s going with me, I know who I love, But the dear knows who I’ll marry. 19th century Anonymous Irish or Scottish ballad, I Know Where I’m Going
  2. (Ireland, dated) God knows; of course, certainly, nobody could doubt
    • Then she gave a little sigh and said: ‘Ah, well! We did our best, the dear knows.’ 1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “A Mother”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 173:
    • The dear knows your father worked hard enough for the money he is laying out on your education. 1939, Flann O'Brien, chapter 1, in At Swim-two-birds: