endear
UK[ɪnˈdɪə]US[ɪnˈdɪr]
v
To cause someone to be liked or loved
Morpheme Breakdown
en
dear
en
to cause
dear
beloved
Etymology
The verb 'endear' is a relatively modern English formation from the early 17th century. It was created by combining the causative prefix 'en-', meaning "to make" or "to put into a state", with the adjective 'dear', which has ancient roots in the Proto-Germanic word for "precious" or "beloved". The literal construction "to make dear" perfectly captures the word's function: to cause someone or something to become cherished or held in affection. This process of attaching a productive prefix to a native English adjective exemplifies how English expands its vocabulary by repurposing its own core words to express more complex or causative actions.
Analysis
Structure: en (to cause) + dear (beloved)
- en: A prefix of Germanic origin, via Old English and French, meaning "to cause to be" or "put into".
- dear: An adjective of Old English origin, from Proto-Germanic, meaning "precious, valuable, beloved".
Examples
Her kindness and generosity endear her to everyone she meets.
The puppy's playful antics quickly endeared it to the whole family.
He has a self-deprecating sense of humor that endears him to his audience.