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it. Amos viii. 5. Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. Milton. Yet still we hug the dear deceit. N. Cotton.

An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak.

delusively believed or propagated; false belief; error in belief. And fondly mourned the dear delusion gone. Prior.

Dearer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dearth; scarcity. [Obs.] Spenser.

See Determine. [Obs.] The sly, slow hours shall not determinate The dateless limit of thy dear exile. Shak.

same kind with that denoted by the primitive; as, gosling, eaglet, lambkin. Babyisms and dear diminutives. Tennyson.

A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle. O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice. Cant. ii. 14. Dove tick (Zoöl.), a mite (Argas reflexus) which infests doves and other birds. -- Soiled dove, a prostitute. [Slang]

A person highly revered. [Obs.] "Una, his dear dread." Spenser.

the cup; to pledge in drinking. I drink to the general joy of the whole table, And to our dear friend Banquo. Shak.

; a small quantity; as, a drop of water. With minute drops from off the eaves. Milton. As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. Shak. That drop of peace divine. Keble.

Scarcity; lack. A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history. Fuller.

anguage, style, form, architecture, etc. That grace that elegance affords. Drayton. The endearing elegance of female friendship. Johnson. A trait of native elegance, seldom seen in the masculine character after childhood or early youth, was shown in the General's fondness for the sight and fragrance of flowers. Hawthor…

A clasp in the arms; embrace. Dear though chaste embracements. Sir P. Sidney.

Estimation; opinion of merit or value; hence, valuation; reckoning; price. Most dear in the esteem And poor in worth! Shak. I will deliver you, in ready coin, The full and dear'st esteem of what you crave. J. Webster.

bation, which is a decision of judgment. It is the commencement of affection." Gogan. No; dear as freedom is, and in my heart's Just estimation prized above all price. Cowper.

An expedition; enterprise; adventure. [Obs.] Forwarding this dear expedience. Shak.

Occasioning expense; calling for liberal outlay; costly; dear; liberal; as, expensive dress; an expensive house or family. War is expensive, and peace desirable. Burke.

General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of provisions; destitution. "Worn with famine." Milton. There was a famine in the land. Gen. xxvi. 1. Famine fever (Med.), typhus fever.

ts; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions. But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last. T. Moore.