dear

¹

[ deer ]

adjective

, dear·er, dear·est.

1. beloved or loved:

   a dear friend.

   Synonyms: darling

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

1. a person who is good, kind, or generous:

   You're a dear to help me with the work.

2. a beloved one.
3. (sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to a stranger, subordinate, etc.)

adverb

1. dearly; fondly.
2. at a high price:

   That painting cost me dear.

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.):

   Oh dear, what a disappointment! Dear me! What's all that noise?

dear

²

or dere

[ deer ]

adjective

, Archaic.

, dear·er, dear·est.

1. hard; grievous.

dear

/ dɪə /

adjective

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. postpositivefoll byto important; close

   a wish dear to her heart

4. 1. highly priced
   2. charging high prices
5. appealing or pretty

   what a dear little ring!

6. for dear life
   for dear life urgently or with extreme vigour or desperation

interjection

1. used in exclamations of surprise or dismay, such as Oh dear! and dear me!

noun

1. often used in direct address someone regarded with affection and tenderness; darling

adverb

1. dearly

   his errors have cost him dear

Derived Forms

• ˈdearness, noun

Other Words From

• dearly adverb
• dearness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English dere, deire, Old English dēore, dīore, dȳre; cognate with Old High German tiuri, Old Norse dȳrr

Origin of dear²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English dere “fierce, hard,” Old English dēor “brave, bold, severe”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dear¹

Old English dēore; related to Old Norse dӯrr

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with dear , also see for dear life ; nearest and dearest .

Synonym Study

See expensive.

Example Sentences

We can still value the fact that, for many years, this person was a dear friend.

From Washington Post

Finding the right college you can afford, dear reader, is within your grasp.

From Time

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore.

From Time

JoAnn Fields watched the funerals of two dear friends and leaders in the Filipino community in the last week of January.

From Voice of San Diego

Many minutes are spent explaining to dear Aunt Helen how to unmute, telling Uncle Bob that we can't see his head, or asking a cousin to move the yapping puppy farther from the microphone.

From Washington Post

If it should be said these are general remarks, let it be remembered that they are the dear-bought, result of experience.

From Project Gutenberg

For a flea, my dear-gentlemen may bring that theirselves; but a b——-, that's a stationary, and born of a bed.

From Project Gutenberg

So they decided to take it in to the dear-mother and have her explain it to them.

From Project Gutenberg

But, hark ye, dear-my-soul, make thou no haste; there is room for all.

From Project Gutenberg

The singer came rushing down a branch, bristled up, blustering, and calling "Dear-r-r-r!"

From Project Gutenberg

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