dear

High in price; expensive.

The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.

There's more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation: Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

Loved; lovable.

"Yes, children dear, wait a bit till it turns itself," she answered - she ought to have said "till I turn it"[.]

So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.

Lovely; kind.

"I've never met the kind of man I mean." "Tell me about him. What does he look like?" "Oh, he might look very much like you." "How dear of you to say that!"

Loving, affectionate, heartfelt

Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.

Precious to or greatly valued by someone.

The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!

[…] dear as sacramental wine To dying lips is all he said […].

A very kind, loving person.

My little cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.

A beloved person.

An affectionate, familiar term of address, such as used between husband and wife.

Pass me the salt, would you dear?

An elderly person, especially a woman.

To endear.

Nor should a Sonne his Sire loue for reward, But for he is his Sire, in nature dear’d.

I should have known no less: It hath been taught us from the primal state That he which is was wished until he were; And the ebbed man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love, Comes deared by being lacked.