dearly — very much; at a great cost
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: very much; at a great cost
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdɪrli/
Example Sentences
- She dearly wanted to become a K-pop star, but her parents wanted her to be a doctor instead.
- He paid dearly for eating that expired kimchi - three days in the bathroom!
- The grandmother dearly missed her grandchildren who moved to Canada.
dearly
ADVERB[/ˈdɪrli/]
very much; at a great cost
She loved her grandmother dearly and visited every single weekend.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old English 'deore', meaning 'precious' or 'costly'. The adverbial suffix '-ly' was added to the adjective 'dear' to form the adverb 'dearly', which has been used since Middle English to express actions performed with great affection, intensity, or at great cost.
Breakdown
dear (precious, costly, from Old English deore) + -ly (adverbial suffix forming an adverb from an adjective).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“She dearly wanted to become a K-pop star, but her parents wanted her to be a doctor instead.”
“He paid dearly for eating that expired kimchi - three days in the bathroom!”
“The grandmother dearly missed her grandchildren who moved to Canada.”
“I dearly hope my English teacher doesn't read this example sentence.”
📚Related Words
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