Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
dear - 10 dictionary results
dear
1 [deer]
adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb, interjection –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
bef. 900; ME dere, OE dēore; c. OHG tiuri, ON dȳrr

Related forms:
dearly, adverb
dearness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To dear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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.
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
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
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
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.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.

