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darling

/ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/
nounadjectiveverb

DARLING meaning: an affectionate name for someone dear, a lovable person or thing, or a favourite; it scores 9 Scrabble points.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 3 meanings

  1. Often used as an affectionate term of address: a person who is very dear to one.

    “Pass the wine, would you, darling?”

  2. A person who is kind, sweet, etc., and thus lovable; a pet, a sweetheart; also, an animal or thing which is cute and lovable.

    “The girl next door picks up all my shopping for me. She is such a darling.”

  3. A favourite.

Adjective 2 meanings

  1. Very dear; beloved, cherished, favourite.

    “She is my darling wife of twenty-two years.”

  2. Very cute or lovable; adorable, charming, sweet.

    “Well, isn’t that a darling little outfit she has on?”

Verb 1 meaning

  1. To call (someone) "darling" (noun sense 1).

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English dereling, derelyng (“beloved person; beloved of God, devout Christian”), from Old English dīerling, dēorling (“favourite, darling; minion”), from Proto-West Germanic *diuriling, from Proto-Germanic *diurijalingaz, from *diurijaz (“beloved, dear; expensive”) (further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“hot, warm; to burn”), or *dweh₂- (“distant, long; to remove, separate”)) + *-ilingaz (suffix forming (diminutive) nouns with the sense of ‘belonging to; coming from’).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
darlbabberbabepreciousbaebabybabycakesbubba

DARLING is a familiar seven-letter word with a warm, affectionate sense. You can use it for someone you love, a sweet or lovable person or thing, or a favourite. Its only anagram is LARDING, while its one-letter neighbours include DARTING and DARNING.

DARLING at a glance

  • Meaning: an affectionate term for someone dear, a lovable person or thing, or a favourite.
  • Scrabble value: 9 points, with D and G worth 2 each and the other five tiles worth 1 each.
  • Anagram: LARDING is the sole rearrangement of DARLING.
  • Sound: the rhyme set shares the -ing ending and includes BEING, THING, and DOING.

What does DARLING mean?

DARLING means a person who is very dear, or someone lovable because they are kind or sweet. As a term of address, it expresses affection; it can also describe a cute animal or a favourite.

The word’s familiar, affectionate sense is distinct from its less familiar anagram, LARDING. That contrast is worth remembering in word games: rearranging the same seven letters produces a different word, not another form of the endearment, and it can save you a wasted rack of tiles.

DARLING shares its -ing rhyme tail with BEING, THING, and DOING. Those familiar rhymes offer a quick sound-based cue, though they do not share DARLING’s meaning or letter arrangement. Ten one-letter neighbours exist, but DARTING is the one most players will recognise.

How does DARLING score in Scrabble?

DARLING scores 9 Scrabble points before any board bonuses. D and G are the only 2-point tiles; A, R, L, I, and N each contribute 1 point. The score comes from the letters, so a premium square can change the total.

The one-letter-neighbour set has 10 entries, including DARTING and DARNING. Some neighbours are less familiar than DARLING itself, so check your game’s word list before relying on an unfamiliar form in a challenge.

Rhymes with darling

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest
  • DARTING9
  • CARLING10
  • MARLING10
  • DARNING9
  • HARLING11
  • PARLING10
  • DARKING13
  • DARRING9
  • DIRLING9
  • WARLING11

Questions people ask

What is the anagram of DARLING?
LARDING is the only anagram of DARLING. It uses the same seven letters in a different order, while DARLING is the familiar affectionate word. The two spellings look similar but have separate meanings.
How many points is DARLING worth in Scrabble?
DARLING is worth 9 points before board bonuses. Its D and G tiles are worth 2 points each, while A, R, L, I, and N are worth 1 point apiece. A premium square can raise the play’s total.
What does darling mean as a term of address?
As a term of address, darling expresses affection for someone who is very dear. The word can also describe a lovable person or animal, or something treated as a favourite. Its meaning is warmer than its anagram, LARDING.

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