dearnessn.
/ˈdɪənɪs/ 1. The quality of being dear: † d. concrete. An expression or token of affection.
Thesaurus »
a. of being held in esteem and affection; hence
Thesaurus »
b. Intimacy, mutual affection.
c. Affection, fondness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > affection > [noun]
lovingeOE
cherte?c1225
amoura1300
dearnessc1320
affectionc1384
homelinessc1384
kindnessc1390
affect1440
gleimc1449
regard?1533
infection1600
affectation1607
fonding1640
endearedness1654
charities1667
endearment1709
affectuosity1730
affectionateness1751
fondliness1821
grá1833
aroha1846
c1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 3144 Dame, said the erl ful sone, For grete derenes es yt done.
a1440 Sir Eglam., MS. Lincoln A. i. 17 f. 138 (Halliw.) With the erle es he lent In derenes nyghte and daye.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iii. ii. 88 I thinke, he holdes you well, and in dearenesse of heart. View more context for this quotation
1624 W. Bedell Copies Certaine Lett. i. 40 Neither soothing vntruth for the dearnesse of your person, nor breaking charitie.
1656 Jer. Taylor in Evelyn's Mem. (1857) III. 72 I am, in great heartiness and dearness of affection..your..most affectionate friend.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 532 The dearness that was between them was now turned..to a most violent enmity.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Locksley Hall in Poems (new ed.) II. 101 The child too clothes the father with a dearness not his due.
1869 T. Erskine Spiritual Order i. 17 The nearness and dearness of my relation to Him.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > affection > [noun] > instance of affection > expression or token of affection
favour1592
dearness1641
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 27 All the duties and dearnesses which ye owe to God.
1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials I. ii. 26 The peace between the two kings, whatever mutual dearnesses there had appeared, was but short.
2. The quality of being dear in price; expensiveness, costliness.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > high price or rate > [noun] > dearness
chertea1420
carity1530
dearness1530
dearth1604
expensefulnessa1613
expensiveness1655
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 213/1 Derenesse, chiertè.
1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. B3v The want of wood and deerenesse thereof in England.
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes ii. §26. 171 Scarcity and dearenesse of corne.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) Pref. p. lxiii The dearness of Paper, and the want of good Types.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 258 The impracticability of success, arising from scarcity of hands, dearness of labour.
1891 Leeds Mercury 28 May 4/5 The withdrawal of the Treasury bills..was due solely to the temporary dearness of money.
Compounds
dearness allowance n. an allowance added to a basic salary, esp. in India, to cover an increase in the cost of living.
ΚΠ
1955 Times 1 July 1/4 (advt.) Pay. Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,600 p.m., according to qualifications and experience, plus dearness allowance.
1969 National Herald (New Delhi) 29 July 8/6 A part of dearness allowance was merged with basic pay last year.
dearness pay n. = dearness allowance n.
ΚΠ
1969 National Herald (New Delhi) 29 July 8/6 All employees whose basic pay and dearness pay do not total more than Rs. 620 will become eligible for overtime allowance.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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