deary

American  

[deer-ee] / ˈdɪər i /

Or dearie

noun

Informal: Sometimes Facetious.

• dearies
  plural

1. darling.

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deary British  

/ ˈdɪərɪ /

noun

1. informal a term of affection: now often sarcastic or facetious

2. an exclamation of surprise or dismay

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dearies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of deary

First recorded in 1675–85; dear ¹ + -y ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

deary dearies

It comes when Callas, resplendent even in a bathrobe, glides into the kitchen to sing at Bruna while the poor deary cooks her an omelet.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2024

Laurie thanked her with a look that made her think in a sudden panic, “Oh, deary me! I know he’ll say something, and then what shall I do?”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

But I’m content, for it’s comin’ to me, my deary, and comin’ quick.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

In the quiet I see my faults, and try to mend them; but, deary me, I don't get on at all.

From Louisa May Alcott : Her Life, Letters, and Journals by Louisa May Alcott

She must have screamed, then, for she felt Mrs. Mullarky’s arms around her, and she heard the lady’s voice, saying: “Don’t, deary; he ain’t dead, yet—an’ he won’t die—we won’t let him die.”

From The Ranchman by Charles Alden Seltzer

Step on a crack, my dearies, step on a crack and teach your granny to suck eggs from her one basket.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 2, 2019

We had them all: cat’s-eyes, aggies, dearies, milkies, steelies, glassies, onionskins.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

"Which will you have, dearies?" said the old lady, drawing near the young girls' corner, "travilla cream or melon?"

From Elsie's Womanhood by Martha Finley

Now sit up, dearies, and have some weak 127 tea, and I’ll take mine strong.

From The Bobbsey Twins at Cedar Camp by Laura Lee Hope

Kiss the Queen, dearies, and then eat your cake and cream.

From Harper's Round Table, May 28, 1895 by Various

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