dearie
Dearie (noun) means an affectionate, often slightly old-fashioned term of address for someone dear, like "sweetie". Example: “Come in out of the cold, dearie.”
How to use dearie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cosy, old-fashioned term of address, similar to "sweetie" or "love".
Informal and a bit dated; often used by older speakers, sometimes with a hint of condescension in modern use.
Word forms
- Plural
- dearies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Come in out of the cold, _____.
Etymology
From dear plus the diminutive suffix -ie.