Dear
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
dear¹
- /dɪə/ UK
- /dɪɹ/ US
- /dɪə/ Australia
- /diə/ New Zealand
- /diːɹ/ Scotland
- /dɛː/
- /dɪə/ General South African
Sounds like deer, Deere, dere, dare (cheer–chair merger) · Rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle English dere, from Old English dēore, dīere, dīore, dȳre (“of great value or excellence, expensive, beloved”), from Proto-West Germanic *diurī, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz (“dear, precious; expensive”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn; hot, warm”).
Cognates
Cognate with Yola dear (“dear”), Saterland Frisian djuur (“precious, dear, costly, expensive”), Alemannic German tüür (“expensive”), Dutch dier, duur (“expensive”), German teuer (“expensive”), Vilamovian taojer, tojer (“dear”), West Flemish diere (“expensive”), Yiddish טײַער (tayer, “expensive”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish dyr (“expensive”), Faroese dýrur (“expensive”), Icelandic dýr (“expensive”), Finnish tyyris (“expensive”), Livonian tõurõz (“dear”), Northern Sami divrras (“expensive”).
adjective dearer · more dear · dearest · most dear · deere · deare
- High in price; expensive. The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.
- Loved; lovable. "Yes, children dear, wait a bit till it turns itself," she answered - she ought to have said "till I turn it"[.]
- 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!"
- Loving, affectionate, heartfelt Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.
- Precious to or greatly valued by someone. The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!
- A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc. Dear Sir/Madam/Miss, please notice our offices will be closed during the following bank holidays:[…].
- 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!
- 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.
- Noble.
noun dears · deere · deare
- A very kind, loving person. My little cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.
- A beloved person.
- An affectionate, familiar term of address, such as used between husband and wife. Pass me the salt, would you dear?
- An elderly person, especially a woman.
verb dears · dearing · deared · deere · deare
- To endear. Nor should a Sonne his Sire loue for reward, But for he is his Sire, in nature dear’d.
adverb more dear · most dear · deere · deare
- Dearly; at a high price. If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.
interjection deere · deare
- Indicating surprise, pity, or disapproval. Dear, dear! Whatever were they thinking?
dear²
- /dɪə/ UK
- /dɪɹ/ US
- /dɪə/ Australia
- /diə/ New Zealand
- /diːɹ/ Scotland
- /dɛː/
- /dɪə/ General South African
Sounds like deer, Deere, dere, dare (cheer–chair merger) · Rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle English dere (“fierce, severe, hard, deadly”), from Old English dēor, dȳr (“brave, bold; severe, dire, vehement”), from Proto-Germanic *deuzaz. Cognate with the above.
adjective more dear · most dear
- Severe, or severely affected; sore.
- Fierce. The Christens found the heathens dear, as the lion doth the bear.
Dear³
Where it comes from
English surname, related to the adjective dear and noun deer (from Old English deor (“wild animal”), used in many senses).
proper noun Dears
- A surname.
