dear in English: Loved very much, and also the polite word used before a name at the start of a letter. (adjective)

Translation

Loved very much, and also the polite word used before a name at the start of a letter.

Word origin

From Old English deore, meaning precious or much loved.

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"Dear" here means much loved.

Anna, .

Letters and emails often begin with "Dear" and a name.

, .

"Oh dear" is what people say when something goes wrong.

love

To like someone or something very much, deep in your heart.

letter

One of the signs we use to write words, like a, b, or c; or a message you write and send to someone.

friend

A person you know well and like, who is not in your family.

kind

A kind is a group of things that are the same in some way; a type or sort.

nice

Good, kind, or pleasing.

precious

Worth a lot of money, or loved very much.

sweetie

A kind name you call someone you love. In Britain it can also mean a small sweet.

darling

A loving name you call a person you care about very much.

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