darling

Everyday

1. Darling is a loving word for someone you love: «Come here, darling.» tree →
2. A darling is a person who is very loved or favoured: the darling of the crowd. tree →
3. (informal) Darling can mean very sweet or lovely: What a darling little puppy! tree →
4. (UK, informal) Some people, often older, call anyone «darling» to be friendly. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life parents call children «darling»; in shops in parts of the UK a friendly assistant may say «There you go, darling.» In stories it shows love or tenderness. It tells the reader the speaker cares, or is trying to sound friendly.

Examples

• Goodnight, darling, sleep well. tree →
• Thank you, darling, that's very kind. tree →
• What a darling little kitten! tree →
• She was the darling of the whole school. tree →
• «Mind how you go, darling,» said the lady at the till. tree →
• Grandma calls everyone darling. tree →
• "How darling and beautiful you are!" tree →

Note

Used as a way of speaking to someone (like «dear», «love», «sweetheart»). Spelling: darling, not «darlin» (that is how some people say it). Can sound too familiar to strangers in some places.

In Jewish tradition

In Jeremiah it means a much-loved child. God speaks of Ephraim this way.

Interpretation. Tradition reads this as God's mercy toward the northern tribes, whom He still calls dear even after exile.

Examples

• Is Ephraim a darling son unto Me? (Prophets JER.31.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Used as a way of speaking to someone (like «dear», «love», «sweetheart»). Spelling: darling, not «darlin» (that is how some people say it). Can sound too familiar to strangers in some places.