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See Endear.

To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for. Dearly I abide that boast so vain. Milton.

atone for; to make amends for; to give satisfaction. [Obs.] Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. Shak.

On my life; dearly. [Obs.] "I love that sport alife." Beau. & Fl.

between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love. These three did love each other dearly well, And with so firm affection were allied. Spenser. The virtue nearest to our vice allied. Pope.

A messenger. [R.] The dear good angel of the Spring, The nightingale. B. Jonson.

To make pale; to blanch. [Obs.] The answer that ye made to me, my dear, . . . Hath so appalled my countenance. Wyatt.

To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. Shak.

at Venice. Some dress, some dance, some play, not to forget Your piquet parties, and your dear basset. Rowe.

A fine fellow; -- a term of endearment. [Obs.] "How now, my bawcock " Shak.

Good friend; dear friend. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Greatly loved; dear to the heart. Antony, so well beloved of Cæsar. Shak. This is my beloved Son. Matt. iii. 17.

tter. See under All, adv. -- Better half, an expression used to designate one's wife. My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee. Sir P. Sidney. -- To be better off, to be in a better condition. -- Had better. (See under Had).

A pretty or dear little bird; -- a pet name. Tennyson.

that which, frightens away or turns aside. [Obs.] And Gynecia, a blancher, which kept the dearest deer from her. Sir P. Sidney. And so even now hath he divers blanchers belonging to the market, to let and stop the light of the gospel. Latimer.

To swell or disfigure (the face) with weeping; to wet with tears. Dear Cloe, how blubbered is that pretty face! Prior.

he parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. Shak.

A good fellow; a merry person; as, you 're a brick. [Slang] "He 's a dear little brick." Thackeray. To have a brick in one's hat, to be drunk. [Slang]

wly married, or about to be married. Has by his own experience tried How much the wife is dearer than the bride. Lyttleton. I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Rev. xxi. 9.

An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness. Wooed her with his soft caresses. Langfellow. He exerted himself to win by indulgence and caresses the hearts of all who were under his command. Macaulay.