dear

Noun · Adjective · Adverb
Synonyms: beloveddearesthoneylovelambdarlinggoodneardevoutearnestheartfeltcostly

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a beloved person; used as terms of endearmentSynonyms: beloveddearesthoneylove
  2. a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)Synonyms: lamb

Adjective (4)

  1. dearly lovedSynonyms: beloveddarling
  2. with or in a close or intimate relationship“a good friend”“my sisters and brothers are near and dear”Synonyms: goodnear
  3. earnest“one's dearest wish”“devout wishes for their success”“heartfelt condolences”Synonyms: devoutearnestheartfelt
  4. having a high price“costly jewelry”“high-priced merchandise”“much too dear for my pocketbook”“a pricey restaurant”Synonyms: costlydear(p)high-pricedpriceypricy

Adverb (2)

  1. with affection“she loved him dearly”“he treats her affectionately”Synonyms: dearlyaffectionately
  2. at a great cost“he paid dearly for the food”“this cost him dear”Synonyms: dearly
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Dear \Dear\ (d[=e]r), a. [Compar. Dearer (d[=e]r"[~e]r); superl. Dearest (d[=e]r"[e^]st).] [OE. dere, deore, AS. de['o]re; akin to OS. diuri, D. duur, OHG. tiuri, G. theuer, teuer, Icel. d[=y]rr, Dan. & Sw. dyr. Cf. Darling, Dearth.]

1.Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive. [1913 Webster]

The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year. [1913 Webster]

3.Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious. "Hear me, dear lady." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Neither count I my life dear unto myself.— Acts xx. 24.[1913 Webster]
And the last joy was dearer than the rest.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
Dear as remember'd kisses after death.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

4.Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention. (a) Of agreeable things and interests. [1913 Webster]

[I'll] leave you to attend him: some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
His dearest wish was to escape from the bustle and glitter of Whitehall.— Macaulay. (b) Of disagreeable things and antipathies.[1913 Webster]
In our dear peril.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Dear \Dear\, n. A dear one; lover; sweetheart. [1913 Webster]

That kiss I carried from thee, dear. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Dear \Dear\, adv. Dearly; at a high price. [1913 Webster]

If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Dear \Dear\, v. t. To endear. [Obs.] --Shelton. [1913 Webster]
Advertisement