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Added 8 October 2026

dear

/dɪə/ noun

In Latin: cārus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dear at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A beloved person; used as terms of endearment.
A sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child).

adjective

Dearly loved.
With or in a close or intimate relationship.
a good friend
Sincerely earnest.
one's dearest wish

adverb

With affection.
she loved him dearly
At a great cost.
he paid dearly for the food

Origin

From Middle English dere, from Old English dēore, dīere, dīore, dȳre (“of great value or excellence, expensive, beloved”), from Proto-West Germanic *diurī, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz (“dear, precious; expensive”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn; hot, warm”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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