dear
High in price; expensive.
Adjective 4 meanings
High in price; expensive.
“The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.”
Loved; lovable.
Lovely; kind.
Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
“Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.”
Noun 4 meanings
A very kind, loving person.
“My little cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.”
A beloved person.
An affectionate, familiar term of address, such as used between husband and wife.
“Pass me the salt, would you dear?”
An elderly person, especially a woman.
Adverb 1 meaning
Dearly; at a high price.
Interjection 1 meaning
Indicating surprise, pity, or disapproval.
“Dear, dear! Whatever were they thinking?”
Etymology
From Middle English dere, from Old English dēore, dīere, dīore, dȳre (“of great value or excellence, expensive, beloved”), from Proto-West Germanic *diurī, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz (“dear, precious; expensive”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn; hot, warm”).
Similar and opposite words
DEAR at a glance
DEAR has 4 letters and scores 5 points in Scrabble (D 2 + E 1 + A 1 + R 1) and 5 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #1,707 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with dear
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