dearly

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈdɪɹli/ UK /ˈdɪəli/ See IPA manual

Freq #8183

Meanings

1

adv
In a way that shows deep love or affection.

She loved her children dearly.
2

adv
Very much; sincerely.

I would dearly love to see you again.
3

adv
At a great cost or with serious consequences.

He paid dearly for his mistake.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a way that shows deep... affectionately dear

3 adv · at a great cost or with... dear

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

paid dearly
paid a high price for something

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English derely, deorliche, from Old English dēorlīċe (“worthily, richly”), equivalent to dear + -ly.

derely Middle English dēorlīċe Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# dearly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɪɹli/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɪəli/
**Frequency rank:** 8183

## Meanings
1. In a way that shows deep love or affection.
2. Very much; sincerely.
3. At a great cost or with serious consequences.

## Examples
- She loved her children dearly.
- I would dearly love to see you again.
- He paid dearly for his mistake.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: derely
- Root: dēorlīċe

## Etymology
From Middle English derely, deorliche, from Old English dēorlīċe (“worthily, richly”), equivalent to dear + -ly.

## AI Etymology
Dearly is from Middle English derely, deorliche, from Old English dēorlīċe (“worthily, richly”), equivalent to dear plus -ly. The suffix -ly recasts equivalent to dear as an adverb: the lexical idea remains recognizable, but the word now describes manner, degree, or circumstance rather than naming the quality by itself. In use as an adverb, dearly denotes in a way that shows deep love or affection, very much; sincerely, and at a great cost or with serious consequences.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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