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Fond vs Dear - What's the difference?

fond | dear |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between fond and dear

is that fond is (obsolete) to caress; to fondle while dear is (obsolete) dearly; at a high price.

As adjectives the difference between fond and dear

is that fond is (chiefly|with of) having a liking or affection (for) while dear is loved; lovable or dear can be severe(ly affected), sore.

As nouns the difference between fond and dear

is that fond is the background design in lace-making while dear is a very kind, loving person.

As verbs the difference between fond and dear

is that fond is (obsolete) to have a foolish affection for, to be fond of while dear is (obsolete) to endear.

As an adverb dear is

(obsolete) dearly; at a high price.

fond

English

Adjective

(er)
  • (chiefly, with of) Having a liking or affection (for).
  • * Shakespeare
  • more fond on her than she upon her love
  • * Irving
  • a great traveller, and fond of telling his adventures
  • .
  • a fond farewell
    a fond mother or wife
  • .
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
  • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas. […]”}}
    I have fond grandparents who spoil me.
  • ; foolish; silly.
  • Your fond dreams of flying to Jupiter have been quashed by the facts of reality.
  • (obsolete) Foolish; simple; weak.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Grant I may never prove so fond / To trust man on his oath or bond.
  • (obsolete) Doted on; regarded with affection.
  • * Byron
  • Nor fix on fond abodes to circumscribe thy prayer.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * fondly * fondness * overfond

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The background design in lace-making.
  • (cooking) brown residue in pans from cooking meats and vegetables.
  • He used the fond to make a classic French pan sauce.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To have a foolish affection for, to be fond of.
  • (obsolete) To caress; to fondle.
  • * Dryden
  • The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her breast.

    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

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