dearly

Everyday

1. Very much: I love you dearly; she would dearly like a puppy. tree →
2. At a high cost, with suffering or loss: they paid dearly for their mistake. tree →
3. (formal) Dearly beloved: words used at the start of a church wedding or funeral to greet people. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and cards it shows deep love (dearly loved). In stories of mistakes it shows a heavy price (paid dearly). Phrases: love dearly, pay dearly, dearly departed (euphemism for a dead person), dearly beloved.

Examples

• I love my grandma dearly. tree →
• She would dearly love to visit Australia. tree →
• The team paid dearly for that mistake and lost the match. tree →
• (euphemism) We remember our dearly departed friend. tree →
• Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today... tree →
• He missed his dog dearly. tree →
• “I am indeed,” she replied, “and I love you dearly.” tree →

Note

Adverb of dear. "Pay dearly" does not usually mean money — it means suffer for something. "Dearly departed" is a gentle way to talk about someone who has died.

In Jewish tradition

In Jeremiah it means very much loved. God speaks about His beloved people.

Interpretation. Tradition reads this as God's sorrow at giving up Israel, whom He still loves.

Examples

• I have forsaken My house, I have cast off My heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies. (Prophets JER.12.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Adverb of dear. "Pay dearly" does not usually mean money — it means suffer for something. "Dearly departed" is a gentle way to talk about someone who has died.