What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Dern vs Dearn - What's the difference?

dern | dearn |

As nouns the difference between dern and dearn

is that dern is a secret; secrecy while dearn is alternative form of lang=en.

As adjectives the difference between dern and dearn

is that dern is hidden; secret; private while dearn is alternative form of lang=en.

As verbs the difference between dern and dearn

is that dern is to hide; secrete, as in a hole while dearn is alternative form of lang=en.

dern

English

Alternative forms

*

Etymology 1

From (etyl) dern, derne, from (etyl) dyrne, . See below.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A secret; secrecy.
  • A secret place; hiding.
  • An obscure language.
  • Darkness; obscurity.
  • Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) dern, derne, from (etyl) dyrne, .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Hidden; secret; private.
  • * Dr. H. More, Immortal, of the Soul
  • Now with their backs to the den's mouth they sit, / Yet shoulder not all light from the dern pit.
  • * J. R. Drake, Culprit Fay
  • Through dreary beds of tangled fern, / Through groves of nightshade dark and dern .

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) dernen, .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hide; secrete, as in a hole.
  • He at length escaped them by derning himself in a fox-earth. ? H. Miller.
  • To hide oneself; skulk.
  • But look how soon they heard of Holoferne / Their courage quail'd, and they began to derne . ? T. Hudson.

    Etymology 4

    Uncertain.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect) A gatepost or doorpost.
  • So I just put my eye between the wall and the dern of the gate, and I saw him come up to the back door''.., Charles Kingsley, ''Westward Ho! , Ch. XIV, How Salvation Yeo Slew the King of the Gubbings.
    ----

    dearn

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • ----