dear — beloved; precious; valued highly
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: beloved; precious; valued highly
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪr/
Example Sentences
- My dear grandmother always made the best cookies in the universe.
- Dear diary, today I discovered that my cat is plotting world domination.
- This restaurant is too dear for my student budget.
dear
ADJECTIVE[/dɪr/]
beloved; precious; valued highly
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old English 'dēore', originally meaning 'precious' or 'costly'. Over time, the meaning evolved from referring to monetary value to encompassing emotional value, eventually developing the sense of 'beloved' or 'cherished'.
Breakdown
dēore (Old English: precious, costly) → dear. The semantic shift reflects a metaphorical extension from material worth to emotional significance.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dear grandmother always made the best cookies in the universe.”
“Dear diary, today I discovered that my cat is plotting world domination.”
“This restaurant is too dear for my student budget.”
“Dear sir, I would like to complain about your singing neighbor.”
📚Related Words
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