dear

dear
dear1
—dearly, adv. —dearness, n.
/dear/, adj., dearer, dearest, n., adv., interj.
adj.
1. beloved or loved: a dear friend.
2. (used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect or as a conventional greeting): Dear Sir.
3. precious in one's regard; cherished: our dearest possessions.
4. heartfelt; earnest: one's dearest wish.
5. high-priced; expensive: The silk dress was too dear.
6. charging high prices: That shop is too dear for my budget.
7. excessive; high: a dear price to pay for one's independence.
8. Obs. difficult to get; scarce.
9. Obs. worthy; honorable.
n.
10. a person who is good, kind, or generous: You're a dear to help me with the work.
11. a beloved one.
12. (sometimes cap.) an affectionate or familiar term of address (sometimes offensive when used to a stranger, subordinate, etc.)
adv.
13. dearly; fondly.
14. at a high price: That painting cost me dear.
15. (used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.): Oh dear, what a disappointment! Dear me! What's all that noise?
[bef. 900; ME dere, OE deore; c. OHG tiuri, ON dyrr]
Syn. 1. darling, cherished. 5. See expensive.
dear2
/dear/, adj., dearer, dearest. Archaic.
hard; grievous.
Also, dere.
[bef. 1000; ME dere, OE deor brave, bold, severe]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • dear — [dir] adj. [ME dere < OE deore, precious, costly, beloved, akin to Du duur, Ger teuer] 1. much loved; beloved 2. much valued; highly thought of; esteemed: used with a title or name as a polite form of address, as in writing letters [Dear Sir]… …   English World dictionary

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