dear

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[edit] English

Most common English words: friend « herself « year « #295: dear » high » above » received

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology 1

Middle English dere, from Old English dēore. Cognate with Dutch duur (“‘costly, precious’”), German teuer (“‘costly, precious’”), Norwegian dyr, Swedish dyr (“‘expensive’”).

[edit] Adjective

dear (comparative dearer, superlative dearest)

Positive
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
loved; lovable
Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
precious to or greatly valued by someone
high in price; expensive
a formal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line
an informal way of addressing the recipient in a letter's opening line
a formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly
an ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior
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.
Translations to be checked

[edit] Noun

Singular
dear

Plural
dears

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
a very kind, loving person
beloved#noun — see beloved

[edit] Etymology 2

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

[edit] Adjective

dear (comparative more dear, superlative most dear)

Positive
dear

Comparative
more dear

Superlative
most dear
  1. Severe(ly affected), sore
[edit] Translations
sore — see sore

[edit] Anagrams

[edit] Irish

[edit] Pronunciation

  • IPA: [dʲaɾˠ]

[edit] Verb

dear

  1. To draw (design).

[edit] Inflection

First Conjugation (A)
singular plural autonomous
first second third first second third
indicative present dearaim dearann tú;
dearair†		 dearann sé, sí dearaimid dearann sibh dearann siad;
dearaid†		 deartar
past dhear mé;
dhearas†		 dhear tú;
dhearais†		 dhear sé, sí dhearamar dhear sibh;
dhearabhair†		 dhear siad;
dhearadar†		 dearadh
future dearfaidh mé;
dearfad†		 dearfaidh tú;
dearfair†		 dearfaidh sé, sí dearfaimid;
dearfam†		 dearfaidh sibh dearfaidh siad;
dearfaid†		 dearfar
past habitual dhearainn dheartá dhearadh sé, sí dhearaimis dhearadh sibh dhearaidís dheartaí
imperative dearaim dear dearadh sé, sí dearaimis dearaigí dearaidís deartar
conditional dhearfainn dhearfá dhearfadh sé, sí dhearfaimis dhearfadh sibh dhearfaidís dhearfaí
subjunctive present deara mé;
dearad†		 deara tú;
dearair†		 deara sé, sí dearaimid deara sibh deara siad;
dearaid†		 deartar
past dearainn deartá dearadh sé, sí dearaimis dearadh sibh dearaidís deartaí
verbal noun dearadh
past participle deartha

† Dialect form

[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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