dear

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   at a great cost

   I paid dearly for the food, but it was worth it to experience the work of a fine chef.

2. 2
   adv

   with affection

   We loved them dearly.

3. 3
   adj

   earnest

   one's dearest wish

4. 4
   noun

   a beloved person

   used as terms of endearment

5. 5
   adj

   High in price; expensive.

   The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.

6. 6
   adj

   Loved; lovable.

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

7. 7
   adj

   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!"

8. 8
   adj

   Loving, affectionate, heartfelt

   Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.

Etymology

From Middle English dere, from Old English dīere (“of great value or excellence, expensive, beloved”), from Proto-West Germanic *diurī, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz (“dear, precious, expensive”). Cognate with Scots dere, deir (“of great value or worth, highly valued, precious, beloved”), Saterland Frisian djuur (“precious, dear, costly, expensive”), Dutch duur (“costly, precious”), German teuer (“costly, precious”), German Low German düür, Danish dyr (“expensive”), Swedish dyr (“expensive”), Norwegian dyr (“expensive”), Icelandic dýr (“expensive”), Yiddish טייַער (tayer, “precious, expensive”…