Dearest: The Superlative That Means Both Most Loved and Most Expensive
Dearest is the superlative of dear. It means most loved, and also most costly, because dear has carried both meanings in English for centuries.
Dearest is the top of *dear*, and *dear* has always meant two things at once. Most beloved and most expensive are both live senses, so *the dearest shop in town* and *my dearest friend* use the same word with no connection at all.
- Most loved. *My dearest friend.*
- A form of address. *Dearest Ayla, thank you for writing.*
- Most expensive (British). *The dearest option on the menu.*
- Most strongly held. *Her dearest wish.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | dear | A dear friend. |
| Comparative | dearer | Dearer than expected. |
| Superlative | dearest | My dearest wish. |
| Adverb | dearly | Dearly loved. |
| Noun | dearness | The dearness of fuel. |
How it is used in a sentence
- It was her dearest wish to see the house again.Most strongly held.
- Petrol is dearer here than in town.British — more expensive.
- He paid dearly for the mistake.At great cost, and usually not in money.
Two meanings, one word
- Beloved — *dear friend*, *dearly loved*, *my dear*
- Costly — *food is dear this winter*, *dearer than last year*
- The cost sense is chiefly British; Americans say expensive
- Both go back to Old English *deore*, which already carried both
- The link is value: something dear is something you would pay a lot for, in money or in feeling
From Old English *deore*. Whether the two senses were ever one word or two that merged is unresolved, and the ambiguity has been part of English for as long as it has been written down.
Is dearest still used to open a letter?
Rarely, and it now reads as either very intimate or deliberately old-fashioned. Dear remains the standard opening.
Does dear mean expensive in America?
Very seldom. Americans understand it but say expensive or pricey.