Origin of dear
1
before 900; Middle English
dere, Old English
dēore; cognate with Old High German
tiuri, Old Norse
dȳrr
OTHER WORDS FROM dear
dear·ly, adverb dear·ness, nounWords nearby dear
Definition for dear (2 of 2)
dear
2
or dere
[ deer ]
/ dɪər /
adjective, dear·er, dear·est. Archaic.
hard; grievous.
Origin of dear
2
before 1000; Middle English
dere, Old English
dēor brave, bold, severe
British Dictionary definitions for dear
Derived forms of dear
dearness, nounWord Origin for dear
Old English
dēore; related to Old Norse
dӯrr
Idioms and Phrases with dear
dear