dear
UK[dɪə(r)]US[dɪr]
adj
loved or valued very much
adj
used at the beginning of a letter to greet the person you are writing to
adj
costing a lot of money
exclamation
used to express surprise, disappointment, or sadness
n
a kind or lovable person
Etymology
The word 'dear' originates from the Old English 'dēore', meaning precious, valuable, or costly. This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic 'diurijaz', which carried the same dual sense of being both emotionally cherished and high in price. The semantic connection between high cost and high affection is ancient, likely rooted in the concept of value. This dual meaning has persisted into modern English, where 'dear' can describe both a beloved person and an expensive item, illustrating how economic and emotional value were conceptually intertwined in early Germanic culture.
Analysis
The word is a simplex of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from separable modern English morphemes.
Examples
She is a very dear friend.
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inquire about...
Property in the city center is becoming prohibitively dear.