Definitions for: Dear


[n] a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
[n] a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)
[adv] at a great cost; "he paid dearly for the food"; "this cost him dear"
[adv] with affection; "she loved him dearly"; "he treats her affectionately"
[adj] with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"
[adj] dearly loved
[adj] earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences"



Webster (1913) Definition: Dear, a. [Compar. Dearer; superl. Dearest.] [OE.
dere, deore, AS. de['o]re; akin to OS. diuri, D. duur, OHG.
tiuri, G. theuer, teuer, Icel. d?r, Dan. & Sw. dyr. Cf.
Darling, Dearth.]
1. Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.

The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear. --Shak.

2. Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price;
as, a dear year.

3. Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious.
``Hear me, dear lady.'' --Shak.

Neither count I my life dear unto myself. --Acts xx.
24.

And the last joy was dearer than the rest. --Pope.

Dear as remember'd kisses after death. --Tennyson.

4. Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind;
engaging the attention.
(a) Of agreeable things and interests.

[I'll] leave you to attend him: some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile. --Shak.

His dearest wish was to escape from the bustle
and glitter of Whitehall. --Macaulay.
(b) Of disagreeable things and antipathies.

In our dear peril. --Shak.

Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever
I had seen that day. --Shak.


Dear, n.
A dear one; lover; sweetheart.

That kiss I carried from thee, dear. --Shak.


Dear, adv.
Dearly; at a high price.

If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear. --Shak.


Dear, v. t.
To endear. [Obs.] --Shelton.

Synonyms: affectionately, beloved, beloved, close, darling, dearest, dearly, devout, earnest, good, heartfelt, honey, lamb, love, loved, loved one, near, sincere

See Also: inexperienced person, innocent, lover

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