dear

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[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology 1

Middle English dere, from Old English dēore. Cognate with Dutch duur (costly, precious), German teuer (costly, precious), Icelandic dýr (expensive), Norwegian dyr, Swedish dyr (expensive).

[edit] Adjective

dear (comparative dearer, superlative dearest)

  1. Loved; lovable.
  2. Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
    Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow
  3. Precious to or greatly valued by someone.
    The dearer the giver, the dearer the trincket he brings!
  4. High in price; expensive.
    The dearer the jewel, the greater love expressed?
  5. 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:
  6. 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!
  7. An ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior.
    My dear boy, if your grades don't pick up I won't bounce you on but over my knee!
  8. (obsolete) noble
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[edit] Noun

dear (plural dears)

  1. A very kind, loving person.
    My cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.
  2. A beloved person
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Middle English dere, from Old English dēor. Cognate with the above

[edit] Adjective

dear (comparative more dear, superlative most dear)

  1. Severe(ly affected), sore
[edit] Translations

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Anagrams


[edit] Irish

[edit] Pronunciation

  • IPA: [dʲaɾˠ]

[edit] Verb

dear

  1. To draw (design).

[edit] Inflection

[edit] Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
dear dhear ndear
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.
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