deared

Deared is a rarely attested English word that can be encountered as the past tense or past participle of an archaic verb sense of “dear.” In contemporary usage, the form is not standard and is mostly found in historical texts, dialectal writing, or as a deliberate archaism. The intended meaning in such contexts would generally be related to making something dear—either endearing or precious—or, less commonly, to making something costly.

Etymology and sense

The basic adjective dear derives from Old English deore, meaning precious or costly, with later senses including beloved. If the verb “to dear” existed in older English, its sense would align with the idea of rendering something dear, either in affection or value. Consequently, “deared” would function as a past tense or past participle form of that verb. However, modern dictionaries do not treat “deared” as a standard word, and attested uses are sparse and largely literary or historical.

Usage

Because the term is not part of standard modern English, “deared” appears only intermittently in older writings or in stylistic reproductions intended to evoke historical language. When encountered, it may signal an archaic tone or serve as a linguistic decorative element rather than conveying a distinct contemporary meaning.

See also

dear, dearness, endear, endearment

References

General reference works on English etymology and historical usage note the rarity of the form “deared,” with no widespread contemporary definition.