noun
dere
deer
Dere (noun) means (archaic) Harm, injury, or hurt. Example: “The old ballad speaks of a knight who suffered great dere in battle.”
noun
1
(archaic) Harm, injury, or hurt.
"The old ballad speaks of a knight who suffered great dere in battle."
verb
1
(archaic) To injure or wound someone.
"None dared dere the king's messenger."
2
(archaic) To trouble, annoy, or cause grief to someone.
"She would not let his cruel words dere her spirit."
How to use dere
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old word for hurting or troubling someone; rarely used outside historical or poetic writing today.
When to use it
Archaic — you will mostly meet this in medieval or early English texts, not modern speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- deres
- Third person singular
- deres
- Past tense
- dered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old ballad speaks of a knight who suffered great _____ in battle.
Etymology
From Old English dæru ("injury, harm, loss"), tracing back to a very old Germanic root meaning damage — a distant relative of similar words in Old High German and Sanskrit.
Related words
Rhymes for dere
See all rhymes for dere →Frequently asked questions
What does “dere” mean?
The word “dere” means (archaic) Harm, injury, or hurt. In plain terms, an old word for hurting or troubling someone; rarely used outside historical or poetic writing today.
How do you pronounce “dere”?
“Dere” is pronounced deer (/dɪə/ in IPA).
How do you use “dere” in a sentence?
Here is “dere” used in a sentence: “The old ballad speaks of a knight who suffered great dere in battle.”
What part of speech is “dere”?
Depending on how it is used, “dere” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dere” come from?
The word “dere” comes from Old English. From Old English dæru ("injury, harm, loss"), tracing back to a very old Germanic root meaning damage — a distant relative of similar words in Old High German and Sanskrit.
How many meanings does “dere” have?
“Dere” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (archaic) Harm, injury, or hurt.
