DEAR definition: 1. loved or liked very much: 2. used at the beginning of a letter to greet the person you are…. Learn more.
Held in tender affection or esteem; loved; beloved: as, a dear child; a dear friend [In this sense much used in the introductory address of letters between persons on terms of affection or of polite intercourse: as, dear Lucy; dear Doctor; dear Sir.]
The meaning of DEAR is highly valued : precious —often used in a salutation. How to use dear in a sentence.
Used as a polite exclamation, chiefly of surprise or distress: oh dear; dear me. [Middle English dere, from Old English dēore.]
From Middle English dere, from Old English dīere (“of great value or excellence, expensive, beloved”), from Proto-West Germanic *diurī, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz (“dear, precious, expensive”).
used in conventional forms of address preceding a title or name, as in Dear Sir or my dear Mr Smith (postpositive) followed by to: important; close: a wish dear to her heart
Dear definition: Highly esteemed or regarded. Used in direct address, especially in salutations.
What does Dear mean? This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Dear. Etymology: deor, Saxon. 1. Beloved; favourite; darling. Your brother Glo’ster hates you. —— Oh, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear. William Shakespeare, R. III. Hangs o’er the tomb. Joseph Addison, Ovid.
noun A darling: a word denoting tender affection or endearment, most commonly used in direct address: as, my dear. Dearly; very tenderly. At a dear rate; at a high price. An exclamation indicating surprise, pity, or other emotion: used absolutely or in connection with oh or me: as, oh dear ! I am so tired; dear me ! where have you been?