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dear
dear / di(ə)r/ • adj. 1. regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone. ∎ used in speech as a way of addressing a person in a polite way. ∎ used as part of the polite introduction to a letter. ∎ endearing; sweet: a dear little puppy. 2. expensive. • n. used as an affectionate or friendly form of address: don't you worry, dear. ∎ a sweet or endearing person. • adv. at a high cost: they buy property cheaply and sell dear. • interj. used in expressions of surprise, dismay, or sympathy: oh dear. PHRASES: for dear life see life.DERIVATIVES: dear·ness n. ORIGIN: Old English dēore, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier ‘beloved,’ also to Dutch duur and German teuer ‘expensive.’ |
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"dear." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "dear." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-dear.html "dear." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-dear.html |
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dear
dear †glorious, noble; regarded with esteem and affection; †precious OE.; high-priced, costly XI. OE. dēore, WS. dīere = OS. diuri (Du. dier beloved, duur high-priced), OHG. tiuri (G. teuer), ON. dýrr :- Gmc. *deurjaz, of unkn. orig.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "dear." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "dear." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-dear.html T. F. HOAD. "dear." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-dear.html |
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dear
dear
•adhere, Agadir, appear, arrear, auctioneer, austere, balladeer, bandolier, Bashkir, beer, besmear, bier, blear, bombardier, brigadier, buccaneer, cameleer, career, cashier, cavalier, chandelier, charioteer, cheer, chevalier, chiffonier, clavier, clear, Coetzee, cohere, commandeer, conventioneer, Cordelier, corsetière, Crimea, dear, deer, diarrhoea (US diarrhea), domineer, Dorothea, drear, ear, electioneer, emir, endear, engineer, fear, fleer, Freer, fusilier, gadgeteer, Galatea, gazetteer, gear, gondolier, gonorrhoea (US gonorrhea), Greer, grenadier, hear, here, Hosea, idea, interfere, Izmir, jeer, Judaea, Kashmir, Keir, kir, Korea, Lear, leer, Maria, marketeer, Medea, Meir, Melilla, mere, Mia, Mir, mishear, mountaineer, muleteer, musketeer, mutineer, near, orienteer, pamphleteer, panacea, paneer, peer, persevere, pier, Pierre, pioneer, pistoleer, privateer, profiteer, puppeteer, queer, racketeer, ratafia, rear, revere, rhea, rocketeer, Sapir, scrutineer, sear, seer, sere, severe, Shamir, shear, sheer, sincere, smear, sneer, sonneteer, souvenir, spear, sphere, steer, stere, summiteer, Tangier, tear, tier, Trier, Tyr, veer, veneer, Vere, Vermeer, vizier, volunteer, Wear, weir, we're, year, Zaïre
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Cite this article
"dear." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "dear." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-dear.html "dear." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-dear.html |
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