Part 2783

<hw>Dear</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Dearer</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Dearest</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>dere</ets>, <ets>deore</ets>, AS. <ets>de\'a2re</ets>; akin to OS. <ets>diuri</ets>, D. <ets>duur</ets>, OHG. <ets>tiuri</ets>, G. <ets>theuer</ets>, <ets>teuer</ets>, Icel. <ets>d<?/r</ets>, Dan. & Sw. <ets>dyr</ets>. Cf. <er>Darling</er>, <er>Dearth</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.</def>

<blockquote>The cheapest of us is ten groats too <b>dear</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; <as>as, a <ex>dear</ex> year</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious.</def> "Hear me, <i>dear</i> lady."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>Neither count I my life <b>dear</b> unto myself. <i>Acts xx. 24.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And the last joy was <b>dearer</b> than the rest. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Dear</b> as remember'd kisses after death. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention</def>. <sd>(a)</sd> Of agreeable things and interests.</def>

<blockquote>[I'll] leave you to attend him: some <b>dear</b> cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>His <b>dearest</b> wish was to escape from the bustle and glitter of Whitehall. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(b)</sd> Of disagreeable things and antipathies.

<blockquote>In our <b>dear</b> peril. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Would I had met my <b>dearest</b> foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dear</h1> <Xpage=372>

<hw>Dear</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A dear one; lover; sweetheart.</def>

<blockquote>That kiss I carried from thee, <b>dear</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dear</h1> <Xpage=372>

<hw>Dear</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Dearly; at a high price.</def>

<blockquote>If thou attempt it, it will cost thee <b>dear</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dear</h1> <Xpage=372>

<hw>Dear</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To endear.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Shelton.</i>

<h1>Dearborn</h1> <Xpage=372>

<hw>Dear"born</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A four-wheeled carriage, with curtained sides.</def>

<h1>Dear-bought</h1> <Xpage=372>

<hw>Dear"-bought`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Bought at a high price; <as>as, <ex>dear-bought</ex> experience</as>.</def>