nearest and dearest
English
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.
nearest and dearest
- /ˈnɪəɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪəɹɪst/ UK
- /ˈnɪɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪɹɪst/ US
Where it comes from
]
The adjective sense appears to predate the noun sense.
adjective form only
- Closest, most intimate. Petronius calleth this paſſion [i.e., jealousy] amantium furioſam æmulationem, a furious emulation, and their ſymptomes are well expreſſed by Sʳ Ieffrey Chaucer in his firſt Canterbury tale. It will make the neareſt & deareſt friends fall out; they will endure al other things to be common, goods, la
noun
- One's closest and most intimate family members, friends, etc. [W]hile all mourned and honoured the dead, thou hast lived to merit our hate and execration—lived to unite thyself with the vile tyrant who murdered thy nearest and dearest— […]
Translations
Every language
noun one's closest and most intimate family members, friends, etc.
| Español | allegados, allegadas, círculo íntimo, seres queridos |
|---|
Talk about this word "nearest and dearest." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/nearest%20and%20dearest. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. nearest and dearest. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/nearest%20and%20dearest "nearest and dearest." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/nearest%20and%20dearest.Cite this
@misc{nearest_and_dearest_2026,
title = {nearest and dearest},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/nearest%20and%20dearest},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
