20 results for: dear

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dear1

Audio Help [deer] Pronunciation Key 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 déore; c. OHG tiuri, ON dȳrr

]

—Related forms

dearly, adverb

dearness, noun

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
dear

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dear2

Audio Help [deer] Pronunciation Key

–adjective, -er, -est. Archaic.

hard; grievous.

Also, dere.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME dere, OE déor brave, bold, severe

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dear¹ Audio Help (dîr) Pronunciation Key
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.
Highly esteemed or regarded. Used in direct address, especially in salutations: Dear Lee Dawson.
1. High-priced; expensive.
2. Charging high prices.
Earnest; ardent: "This good man was a dear lover and constant practicer of angling" (Izaak Walton).
Obsolete Noble; worthy.
Heartfelt: It is my dearest wish.

One that is greatly loved.
An endearing, lovable, or kind person.

adv.

With fondness; affectionately.
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.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dear² Audio Help (dîr) Pronunciation Key
adj. Severe; grievous; sore: our dearest need.

[Middle English dere, from Old English dēor.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

dear
adjective
1.	dearly loved [syn: beloved]
2.	with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"
3.	earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences"
4.	having a high price; "costly jewelry"; "high-priced merchandise"; "much too dear for my pocketbook"; "a pricey restaurant" [syn: costly]
adverb
1.	with affection; "she loved him dearly"; "he treats her affectionately" [syn: dearly]
2.	at a great cost; "he paid dearly for the food"; "this cost him dear" [syn: dearly]
noun
1.	a beloved person; used as terms of endearment [syn: beloved]
2.	a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child) [syn: lamb]

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

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 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
dear1 [diə] adjective

high in price
Example: Cabbages are very dear this week.

Arabic:	غالي الثَّمَن
Chinese (Simplified):	昂贵的
Chinese (Traditional):	昂貴的
Czech:	drahý
Danish:	dyr
Dutch:	duur
Estonian:	kallis
Finnish:	kallis
French:	cher
German:	teuer
Greek:	ακριβός
Hungarian:	drága
Icelandic:	dÿr
Indonesian:	mahal
Italian:	caro

Japanese:	高価な
Korean:	비싼
Latvian:	dārgs
Lithuanian:	brangus
Norwegian:	dyr
Polish:	drogi
Portuguese (Brazil):	caro
Portuguese (Portugal):	caro
Romanian:	scump
Russian:	дорогой
Slovak:	drahý
Slovenian:	drag
Spanish:	caro
Swedish:	dyr
Turkish:	pahalı

dear2 [diə] adjective

very lovable
Example: He is such a dear little boy.

Arabic:	مَحْبوب، عَزيز
Chinese (Simplified):	亲爱的
Chinese (Traditional):	親愛的
Czech:	milý
Danish:	kær
Dutch:	lief
Estonian:	armas
Finnish:	suloinen
French:	adorable
German:	lieb
Greek:	αξιαγάπητος
Hungarian:	kedves
Icelandic:	innilegur
Indonesian:	tersayang
Italian:	adorabile

Japanese:	かわいい
Korean:	사랑스러운, 귀여운
Latvian:	jauks; mīļš
Lithuanian:	mielas
Norwegian:	søt og snill
Polish:	kochany, milutki
Portuguese (Brazil):	querido
Portuguese (Portugal):	adorável
Romanian:	adorabil
Russian:	славный
Slovak:	milý
Slovenian:	ljubek
Spanish:	encantador
Swedish:	rar, gullig
Turkish:	sevgili

dear3 [diə] adjective

(with to) much loved
Example: She is very dear to me.

Arabic:	حَبيب، عَزيز
Chinese (Simplified):	钟爱的
Chinese (Traditional):	鐘愛的
Czech:	milovaný (kým)
Danish:	dyrebar for
Dutch:	dierbaar
Estonian:	kallis
Finnish:	rakas
French:	cher
German:	teuer
Greek:	αγαπητός
Hungarian:	drága
Icelandic:	kær
Indonesian:	disayang
Italian:	affabile

Japanese:	いとしい
Korean:	사랑스러운, 소중한
Latvian:	dārgs; mīļš
Lithuanian:	brangus
Norwegian:	kjær
Polish:	drogi, kochany
Portuguese (Brazil):	caro
Portuguese (Portugal):	querido
Romanian:	drag
Russian:	дорогой
Slovak:	drahý
Slovenian:	ljubezniv
Spanish:	querido
Swedish:	kär
Turkish:	kıymetli, değerli

dear4 [diə] adjective

used as a polite way of addressing someone, especially in a letter
Example: Dear Sir.

Arabic:	عَزيزي
Chinese (Simplified):	亲爱的（用于称呼人）
Chinese (Traditional):	親愛的(用於稱呼人)
Czech:	Vážený
Danish:	kære
Dutch:	geacht
Estonian:	austatud
Finnish:	hyvä
French:	cher
German:	Liebe, *r
Greek:	αγαπητέ, αξιότιμε
Hungarian:	kedves
Icelandic:	háttvirti, kæri
Indonesian:	terhormat
Italian:	caro; egregio

Japanese:	親愛なる～
Korean:	친애하는, 존경하는
Latvian:	(uzrunā vēstulē) godātais kungs!
Lithuanian:	gerbiamasis, brangusis, mielasis
Norwegian:	kjære
Polish:	drogi
Portuguese (Brazil):	caro, prezado
Portuguese (Portugal):	prezado
Romanian:	dragă
Russian:	уважаемый
Slovak:	vážený
Slovenian:	spoštovani
Spanish:	querido
Swedish:	kära, käre, bästa, bäste
Turkish:	sayın, muhterem

dear1 [diə] noun

a person who is lovable or charming
Example: He is such a dear!

Arabic:	شَخْص عَزيز
Chinese (Simplified):	可爱的人
Chinese (Traditional):	可愛的人
Czech:	drahoušek
Danish:	skat
Dutch:	lieverd
Estonian:	kullakallis
Finnish:	kullanmuru
French:	amour
German:	der Schatz
Greek:	αξιαγάπητο άτομο
Hungarian:	drága
Icelandic:	yndi, gersemi
Indonesian:	orang yang baik sekali
Italian:	tesoro

Japanese:	かわいい人
Korean:	사랑스러운 사람
Latvian:	jauks, *mīļš cilvēks
Lithuanian:	mielas žmogus
Norwegian:	elskelig og søt person
Polish:	kochane stworzenie
Portuguese (Brazil):	encanto
Portuguese (Portugal):	encanto
Romanian:	drăguţ
Russian:	прелесть
Slovak:	miláčik
Slovenian:	srček, ljubica
Spanish:	encanto, amor
Swedish:	raring, förtjusande person
Turkish:	sevimli, *cana yakın kimse

dear2 [diə] noun

a person who is loved or liked (especially used to address someone)
Example: Come in, dear.

Arabic:	شَخْص مَحْبوب
Chinese (Simplified):	被爱的人
Chinese (Traditional):	被愛的人
Czech:	miláček, drahý, *drahá
Danish:	kære
Dutch:	schat
Estonian:	kallike
Finnish:	rakas, kulta
French:	cher, *-ère
German:	der Liebling
Greek:	αγαπητός, αγαπητέ (για προσφώνηση)
Hungarian:	kedves
Icelandic:	elskan, væni
Indonesian:	sayang
Italian:	caro

Japanese:	いとしい人
Korean:	사랑하거나 좋아하는 사람(이름 대신 부를 때)
Latvian:	mīļais; dārgais
Lithuanian:	mielasis, brangusis
Norwegian:	kjære, vennen min
Polish:	kochany
Portuguese (Brazil):	querido
Portuguese (Portugal):	querido
Romanian:	dragă
Russian:	дорогой, милый
Slovak:	drahý, -á
Slovenian:	dragi, draga
Spanish:	querido
Swedish:	kära du, käraste
Turkish:	sevgili, aziz, canım

dear, *dear! / oh dear!

mild expressions of regret, sorrow, pity etc
Example: Oh dear! I've forgotten my key.

Arabic:	يا سَلام! تَعْبير تَعَجُّب للتَّعْبير عن الأسَف أو الش�
Chinese (Simplified):	呵，哎呀
Chinese (Traditional):	呵，哎呀
Czech:	můj bože, jejda
Danish:	kære; du godeste; ih nej altså
Dutch:	ojee!
Estonian:	heldeke!
Finnish:	hyvänen aika
French:	oh là là!
German:	Ach, du liebe Zeit!
Greek:	ποπό! (επιφ.)
Hungarian:	te jó ég!
Icelandic:	æ, æ!, ja hérna!
Indonesian:	/
Italian:	Oh Signore!*

Japanese:	おや, まあ！
Latvian:	ak vai!
Lithuanian:	oi! o Dieve!
Norwegian:	kjære vene!; du slette tid!
Polish:	O Boże!
Portuguese (Brazil):	oh, Deus!
Portuguese (Portugal):	Que coisa!
Romanian:	vai de mine!
Russian:	боже мой!
Slovak:	preboha! prepánajána
Slovenian:	ojoj!
Spanish:	¡Dios mío!, ¡ay, Dios!, ¡vaya!
Swedish:	kära nån !, oj då!
Turkish:	Eyvah!, Aman Allahım!; Yaa!

See also: dearly

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Dear

Dar"ling\, n. [OE. derling, deorling, AS. de['o]rling; de['o]re dear + -ling. See Dear, and -ling.] One dearly beloved; a favorite.

And can do naught but wail her darling's loss. --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.