bedear

present singular third person bedears · participle present bedearing · participle past bedeared · past bedeared

1. transitiveTo make or hold dear; endear.

   I have been too nice. The coaxing minx, she loves me, cannot hide it, Has but half heart to try. Coy as she is, Her looks are kisses and her voice bedears me, Though she but say "Good day, sir."

   1872, Augusta Webster, The auspicious day

   Synonyms: appreciate, cherish, prize, appreciate, cherish, esteem, hold dear, prize

2. transitiveTo say "dear" to; address as "dear".

   Highland had fallen into the habit of casually bedearing Mary when there were people about. "Well, dear," he said, "how about it?" "Oh," she said, "I think it's a lovely place, and so clean and tidy, and the sea, and all — I'd love to stay."

   1922, Hearst's international

   1 more example

   The "dears" had such a hard time of it, that they ended by keeping purposely away from the court-receptions, while, on the other hand, the legion of insignificant people with the von to their name commenced bedearing each other to their hearts content.

   1862, Richard Holt Hutton, Walter Bagehot, The National review