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What is the difference between darling and dear?

darling | dear |

Dear is a synonym of darling.



As nouns the difference between darling and dear

is that darling is a person who is dear to one while dear is a very kind, loving person.

As adjectives the difference between darling and dear

is that darling is dear; cherished while dear is loved; lovable.

As a proper noun Darling

is {{surname|A=An|English and Scottish|from=nicknames}}, originally a nickname from darling.

As a verb dear is

to endear.

As an adverb dear is

dearly; at a high price.

darling

English

Alternative forms

* (informal) *

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person who is dear to one.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
    • , passage=But Richmond, his grandfather's darling , after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 15, author=Felicity Cloake, work=Guardian
    • , title= How to cook the perfect nut roast , passage=If there's such a thing as pariah food – a recipe shunned by mainstream menus, mocked to near extinction and consigned to niche hinterlands for evermore – then the nut roast, a dish whose very name has become a watchword for sawdusty disappointment, is surely a strong contender. One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium [sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.}}

    Synonyms

    * * * *

    Derived terms

    * media darling

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Dear; cherished.
    • She is my darling wife of twenty-two years.
  • charming
    • Well isn't that a darling little outfit she has on.

    Usage notes

    darlinger is rarely used.

    Anagrams

    * English affectionate terms

    dear

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) dere, from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Loved; lovable.
  • *
  • *: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.
  • Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
  • :
  • Precious to or greatly valued by someone.
  • :
  • High in price; expensive.
  • :
  • A formal way to start (possibly after my ) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.
  • :
  • A formal way to start (often after my ) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly.
  • :
  • *, chapter=7
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“A very welcome, kind, useful present, that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing.
  • An ironic way to start (often after my ) addressing an inferior.
  • :
  • (lb) Noble.
    • Derived terms
    * dearly * dear me * dearness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A very kind, loving person.
    • My cousin is such a dear , always drawing me pictures.
  • A beloved person
    • Synonyms
    * (kind loving person) darling
    Derived terms
    * oh dear * the dear knows

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To endear.
    • (Shelton)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) dearly; at a high price
  • * Shakespeare
    • If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear .

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) dere, from (etyl) . Cognate with the above

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Severe(ly affected), sore

    • Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * English affectionate terms ----