dear heart

See also: dearheart

English

Noun

dear heart (plural dear hearts)

1. Term of affection; sweetheart.

Interjection

dear heart

1. (archaic) Expressing surprise or emphasis.
   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     “Dead — aye, sure enough he’s dead and gone below,” said the fellow with the bandage; “but if ever sperrit walked, it would be Flint’s. Dear heart, but he died bad, did Flint!”

   • 1891, Maxwell Gray, In the Heart of the Storm, volume 2, page 119:

     "Dear heart!" exclaimed Mrs. Plummer soon after, as something rolled over the bare white boards from the folds of a dress she was vigorously shaking, before replacing it in the drawer, "how did she come by pearls?"