Dear

Dear - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DEAR, a.

1. Scarce; not plentiful.

2. Bearing a high price in comparison of the usual price; more costly than usual; of a higher price than the customary one. Wheat is dear at a dollar a bushel, when the usual price is seventy five cents. This is the effect of scarcity and demand.

3. Of a high value in estimation; greatly valued; beloved; precious.

And the last joy was dearer than the rest.

Be ye followers of God, as dear children. Eph 5.

DEAR, a. Hurtful; grievous; hateful.

DEAR, v.t. To make dear.

DEAR, n. A darling; a word denoting tender affection or endearment; as, my dear.

Dearly - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DE'ARLY, adv.

1. At a high price; as, he pays dearly for his rashness.

2. With great fondness; as, we love our children dearly; dearly beloved.

der, der'-li ("held at a great price," "highly valued"): In Ac 20:24, Paul does not hold his life "dear" (timios, "at a price"); compare 1Co 3:12, "costly stones"; 1Pe 1:19, "precious blood." Lu 7:2, the servant was "dear" to the centurion (entimos, "highly prized"; compare Php 2:29; 1Pe 2:6). 1Th 2:8, "very dear to us" (agapetos, "beloved"). In the Revised Version (British and American), agapetos is generally translated "beloved." "Dearly" before "beloved" of the King James Version is omitted in all passages in the Revised Version (British and American). The word "dear" occurs but once in the Old Testament, namely, Jer 31:20. the Revised Version (British and American) correctly changes "dear Son" of the King James Version (Col 1:13) into "the Son of his love."

H. E. Jacobs