dear

comparative dearer · comparative more dear · superlative dearest · superlative most dear · alternative archaic deere · alternative obsolete deare

1. IrelandUKNZ (dated)High in price; expensive.

   The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.

   3 more examples

   There's more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation: Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

   This water is sold for 50 cents per ton, which is not dear under the circumstances.

   1902, Briquettes as Fuel in Foreign Countries (report of the United States Bureau of Foreign Commerce)

   Every summer we can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear.

   1966, The Beatles, “When I'm Sixty-Four”

   Synonyms: costly, lickpenny, spenny, 5-star, big-ticket, chargeful, cheap at half the price, costful

2. Loved; lovable.

   "We shall have to put up with whitebait. And, of course, a dear little chicken with peas and roast potatoes."

   1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 129

   2 more examples

   "Yes, children dear, wait a bit till it turns itself," she answered - she ought to have said "till I turn it"[.]

   1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 62

   So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.

   1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms: lief, lovely, precious, beloved, favoured, lief, lovable, loved

3. Lovely; kind.

   "I've never met the kind of man I mean." "Tell me about him. What does he look like?" "Oh, he might look very much like you." "How dear of you to say that!"

   1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC

   Synonyms: benevolent, benign, nice, compassionate, benignant, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted

4. Loving, affectionate, heartfelt

   Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.

   Synonyms: cordial, fond, warm-hearted, affectionate, caring, cordial, fond, soft

5. Precious to or greatly valued by someone.

   The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!

   1 more example

   […] dear as sacramental wine To dying lips is all he said […].

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 58

   Synonyms: cherished, treasured, without price, estimable, valuable, worthy, worthly, prizable

6. A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.

   Dearest Joseph/son:...

   1 more example

   Dear Sir/Madam/Miss, please notice our offices will be closed during the following bank holidays:[…].

7. A formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly.

   My dear friend, I feel better as soon as you come sit beside my sickbed!

   1 more example

   “A very welcome, kind, useful present, that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing.[…]”

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

8. An ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior or someone one dislikes.

   My dear man, you ought to think twice about who you're trying to blackmail.

9. obsoleteNoble.

   Synonyms: great, respected, worthy

plural dears · alternative archaic deere · alternative obsolete deare

1. A very kind, loving person.

   My little cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.

   Synonyms: darling

2. A beloved person.
3. An affectionate, familiar term of address, such as used between husband and wife.

   Pass me the salt, would you dear?

4. An elderly person, especially a woman.

present singular third person dears · participle present dearing · participle past deared · past deared · alternative archaic deere · alternative obsolete deare

1. obsoleteTo endear.

   Nor should a Sonne his Sire loue for reward, But for he is his Sire, in nature dear’d.

   1603, John Davies of Hereford, Microcosmos

   2 more examples

   I should have known no less: It hath been taught us from the primal state That he which is was wished until he were; And the ebbed man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love, Comes deared by being lacked.

   1623, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra

   Nay, hide him in thy house, and also show Such deared love to him, as to delight In his base company both day and night?

   1679, Benjamin Keach, The Glorious Lover, page 164

comparative more dear · superlative most dear · alternative archaic deere · alternative obsolete deare

1. Dearly; at a high price.

   If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

alternative archaic deere · alternative obsolete deare

1. Indicating surprise, pity, or disapproval.

   Dear, dear! Whatever were they thinking?

comparative more dear · superlative most dear

1. Severe, or severely affected; sore.
2. obsoleteFierce.

   The Christens found the heathens dear, as the lion doth the bear.

plural Dears

1. A surname.