Dear vs. Precious
Dearadjective
High in price; expensive.
Dearadjective
Loved; lovable.
Dearadjective
Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
Dearadjective
Precious to or greatly valued by someone.
Dearadjective
A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.
Dearadjective
A formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly.
Dearadjective
An ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior.
Dearadjective
(obsolete) Noble.
Dearadjective
Severe, or severely affected; sore.
Dearadjective
(obsolete) Fierce.
Dearnoun
A very kind, loving person.
Dearnoun
A beloved person
Dearverb
(obsolete) To endear.
Dearadverb
dearly; at a high price
Dearadjective
Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.
Dearadjective
Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year.
Dearadjective
Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious.
Dearadjective
Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention.
Dearadjective
Of disagreeable things and antipathies.
Dearnoun
A dear one; lover; sweetheart.
Dearadverb
Dearly; at a high price.
Dearverb
To endear.
Dearnoun
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
Dearnoun
a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)
Dearadjective
dearly loved
Dearadjective
with or in a close or intimate relationship;
Dearadjective
earnest;
Dearadjective
having a high price;
Dearadverb
with affection;
Dearadverb
at a great cost;
Dearadjective
regarded with deep affection
Dearadjective
used in speech as a polite or affectionate form of address
Dearadjective
used in the polite form of address at the start of a letter.
Dearadjective
endearing; sweet
Dearadjective
expensive
Dearnoun
used as an affectionate or friendly form of address
Dearnoun
a sweet or endearing person
Dearadverb
at a high cost
Dearinterjection
used in expressions of surprise, dismay, or sympathy
Preciousadjective
Of high value or worth.
Preciousadjective
Regarded with love or tenderness.
Preciousadjective
(pejorative) Treated with too much reverence.
Preciousadjective
(pejorative) Contrived to be cute or charming.
Preciousnoun
Someone (or something) who is loved; a darling.
Preciousadverb
Very; an intensifier.
Preciousadjective
Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone.
Preciousadjective
Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.
Preciousadjective
Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. Précieuse, Preciosity.
Preciousadjective
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for;
Preciousadjective
of high worth or cost;
Preciousadjective
obviously contrived to charm;
Preciousadverb
extremely;
