·adj Greatly beloved.
·Impf & ·p.p. of <<Love>>. ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
·adv Dearly; at a high price. II. Dear ·noun A dear one; lover; sweetheart. III. Dear ·vt To <<End...
·adj Bought at a high price; as, dear-bought experience. ...
Irishmen: from their frequently making use of that expression. ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
An exclamation of surprise, used in the same sense as "Oh dear!" ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.