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.
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.)
00:10
Dear
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
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:
before 900; Middle English dere, Old English dēore; cognate with Old High German tiuri, Old Norse dȳrr
before 900; Middle English dere, Old English dēore; cognate with Old High German tiuri, Old Norse dȳrr
Related forms
dear·ly, adverb
dear·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
adjective, dear·er, dear·est. Archaic.
hard; grievous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To dear
Collins
World English Dictionary
dear (dɪə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj (foll by to) | |
| 1. | beloved; precious |
| 2. | used in conventional forms of address preceding a title or name, as in Dear Sir or my dear Mr Smith |
| 3. | important; close: a wish dear to her heart |
| 4. | a. highly priced |
| b. charging high prices | |
| 5. | appealing or pretty: what a dear little ring! |
| 6. | for dear life urgently or with extreme vigour or desperation |
| —interj | |
| 7. | used in exclamations of surprise or dismay, such as Oh dear! and dear me! |
| —n | |
| 8. | (often used in direct address) someone regarded with affection and tenderness; darling |
| —adv | |
| 9. | dearly: his errors have cost him dear |
| [Old English dēore; related to Old Norse dӯrr] | |
| 'dearness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
dear
O.E. deore "precious, valuable, costly, loved," from W.Gmc. *deurjaz, ultimate origin unknown. Used interjectorily since 1690s. As an introductory word to letters, it is attested from mid-15c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
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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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Never have you seemed as near and dear to me as in the past six months.
Set against the backdrop of the known universe, the history of our dear planet seems nearly irrelevant.
He's the guest of my parents' dear friends, who are in the movie business.
One derives negative utility from worry and stress, and from losing things, people and freedoms which one holds dear.
Idioms & Phrases
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