dearer

dear

1 [deer] adjective, dear·er, dear·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.)
00:10
Dearer is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, 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:
before 900; Middle English dere, Old English dēore; cognate with Old High German tiuri, Old Norse dȳrr

dear·ly, adverb
dear·ness, noun


1. darling, cherished. 5. See expensive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

dear

2 [deer]
adjective, dear·er, dear·est. Archaic.
hard; grievous.
Also, dere.


Origin:
before 1000; Middle English dere, Old English dēor brave, bold, severe

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
dear (dɪə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
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
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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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