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dear - 10 dictionary results

dear

1  [deer] adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb, interjection
Use dear in a Sentence
–adjective
1. beloved or loved: a dear friend.
2. (used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect or as a conventional greeting): Dear Sir.
3. precious in one's regard; cherished: our dearest possessions.
4. heartfelt; earnest: one's dearest wish.
5. high-priced; expensive: The silk dress was too dear.
6. charging high prices: That shop is too dear for my budget.
7. excessive; high: a dear price to pay for one's independence.
8. Obsolete. difficult to get; scarce.
9. Obsolete. worthy; honorable.
–noun
10. a person who is good, kind, or generous: You're a dear to help me with the work.
11. a beloved one.
12. (sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address (sometimes offensive when used to a stranger, subordinate, etc.)
–adverb
13. dearly; fondly.
14. at a high price: That painting cost me dear.
–interjection
15. (used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.): Oh dear, what a disappointment! Dear me! What's all that noise?
Origin:
bef. 900; ME dere, OE dēore; c. OHG tiuri, ON dȳrr

Related forms:
dearly, adverb
dearness, noun

Synonyms:
1. darling, cherished. 5. See expensive.

dear

2  [deer]
–adjective, -er, -est. Archaic.
hard; grievous.
Also, dere.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME dere, OE dēor brave, bold, severe
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dear
dear 1   (dîr)   
adj.   dear·er, dear·est
    1. Loved and cherished: my dearest friend.
    2. Greatly valued; precious: lost everything dear to them.
    3. High-priced; expensive.
    4. Charging high prices.
  2. Highly esteemed or regarded. Used in direct address, especially in salutations: Dear Lee Dawson.
    1. High-priced; expensive.
    2. Charging high prices.
  4. Earnest; ardent: "This good man was a dear lover and constant practicer of angling" (Izaak Walton).
  5. Obsolete Noble; worthy.
  6. Heartfelt: It is my dearest wish.
n.  
  1. One that is greatly loved.
  2. An endearing, lovable, or kind person.
adv.  
  1. With fondness; affectionately.
  2. At a high cost: sold their wares dear.
interj.  Used as a polite exclamation, chiefly of surprise or distress: oh dear; dear me.

[Middle English dere, from Old English dēore.]
dear'ly adv., dear'ness n.
dear 2   (dîr)   
adj.  Severe; grievous; sore: our dearest need.

[Middle English dere, from Old English dēor.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Dear

Dear\, a. [Compar. Dearer; superl. Dearest.] [OE. dere, deore, AS. de['o]re; akin to OS. diuri, D. duur, OHG. tiuri, G. theuer, teuer, Icel. d?r, Dan. & Sw. dyr. Cf. Darling, Dearth.]

1. Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.

The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear. --Shak.

2. Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year.

3. Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious. "Hear me, dear lady." --Shak.

Neither count I my life dear unto myself. --Acts xx. 24.

And the last joy was dearer than the rest. --Pope.

Dear as remember'd kisses after death. --Tennyson.

4. Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention. (a) Of agreeable things and interests.

[I'll] leave you to attend him: some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile. --Shak.

His dearest wish was to escape from the bustle and glitter of Whitehall. --Macaulay. (b) Of disagreeable things and antipathies.

In our dear peril. --Shak.

Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day. --Shak.

Dear

Dear\, n. A dear one; lover; sweetheart.

That kiss I carried from thee, dear. --Shak.

Dear

Dear\, adv. Dearly; at a high price.

If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear. --Shak.

Dear

Dear\, v. t. To endear. [Obs.] --Shelton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : dear
Spanish: caro,
German: teuer,
Japanese: 高価な
More Translations »

dear 
O.E. deore "precious, valuable, costly, loved," from W.Gmc. *deurjaz, ultimate origin unknown. Used interjectorily since 1694. As an introductory word to letters, it is attested from 1450.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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dear

In addition to the idiom beginning with dear, also see for dear life; nearest and dearest.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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