darling

[dahr-ling]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR darling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person very dear to another; one dearly loved.

(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address.

a person or thing in great favor; a favorite: She was the darling of café society.

adjective

very dear; dearly loved: my darling child.

favorite; cherished.

Informal. charming; cute; lovable: What a darling baby!

Origin of darling

before 900; Middle English derling, Old English dēorling. See dear¹, -ling¹

Related formsdar·ling·ly, adverbdar·ling·ness, noun

Darling

[dahr-ling]

noun

Jay Nor·wood

[nawr-woo d] /ˈnɔr wʊd/, Ding, 1876–1962, U.S. political cartoonist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for darling

baby, lamb, love, sweetie, angel, pet, treasure, sugar, truelove, girlfriend, beloved, lover, dear, flame, friend, boyfriend, dearest, dearie, precious, honeybunch

Examples from the Web for darling

Contemporary Examples of darling

Kerry Washington - Scandal Is there room for only one Shonda Rhimes darling in Best Actress in a Drama?
15 Enraging Golden Globe TV Snubs and Surprises: Amy Poehler, 'Mad Men' & More
Kevin Fallon
December 11, 2014
Take Joni Ernst, a GOP darling now favored to be the next senator from Iowa.
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday
Jonathan Alter
November 4, 2014
I'm going to use it to stop all arguments in the future, about anything: "Can't make dinner tonight, darling, children might die."
Bill Maher Finds the Worst Congressman in America
Ana Marie Cox
October 8, 2014
But Darling makes it very clear that this is not just a show about a pop star, no matter how much buzz his name generates.
The Making—and Remaking—of David Bowie
Justin Jones
September 23, 2014
LSD, an illicit drug with a serious stigma, was once the darling of the psychotherapy world.
Psychedelics Are Ready for a Comeback
Abby Haglage
September 8, 2014

Historical Examples of darling

She was saying in a thick, soft voice, "It was wrong of you, my darling."
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
You don't know, darling, the wickedness of that villainous baggage.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
All the regret I shall have, if I die, my darling, will be to have no child from you.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
Go, my darling; call upon the notary, and tell him to be quick about you know what.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
She said, 'Do what you like, darling, but don't worry me about it!'
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine

British Dictionary definitions for darling

darling

noun

a person very much loved: often used as a term of address

a favouritethe teacher's darling

adjective (prenominal)

beloved

much admired; pleasinga darling hat

Word Origin for darling

Old English dēorling; see dear, -ling 1

Darling

noun

Grace. 1815–42, English national heroine, famous for her rescue (1838) of some shipwrecked sailors with her father, a lighthouse keeper

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for darling

Old English deorling "darling, favorite minion," double diminutive of deor "dear" (see dear (adj.)). The vowel shift from -e- to -a- (16c.) is usual for -er- followed by a consonant. "It is better to be An olde mans derlyng, than a yong mans werlyng" (1562).