dear
/dɪɹ/ adjective A1- Loved; lovable.
- Lovely; kind.
- Loving, affectionate, heartfelt · Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.
- Precious to or greatly valued by someone. · The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!
- 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:[…].· Dearest Joseph/son:...
- 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!
- An ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior or someone one dislikes. · My dear man, you ought to think twice about who you're trying to blackmail.
Comparative dearer · Superlative dearest
From the library
Wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this conversation, that he never again distressed himself, or provoked his dear sister Elizabeth, by introducing the subject of it; and she was pleased to find that she had said enough to keep him quiet.
“Oh, my dear Lydia,” she cried, “when shall we meet again?”
“Write to me very often, my dear.”
“Yes, most satisfactory, my dear Danglars.”
Other matches
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