endear

English

Alternative forms

• indear

Etymology

From en- +‎ dear.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɪnˈdɪə/, /ɛnˈdɪə/
• (US) IPA: /ɪnˈdɪəɹ/
• Rhymes: -ɪə(r)

Verb

endear (third-person singular simple present endears, present participle endearing, simple past and past participle endeared)

1. (obsolete) To make (something) more precious or valuable. [16th-17th c.]
2. (obsolete) To make (something) more expensive; to increase the cost of. [17th-19th c.]
3. (obsolete) To stress (something) as important; to exaggerate. [17th c.]
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.18:

     Salvianus Massiliensis [...] saith, that amongst French-men, to lie and forsweare is no vice but a manner of speach. He that would endeare [transl. encherir] this Testimonie, might say, it is now rather deemed a vertue among them.

4. To make (someone) dear or precious. [from 18th c.]

Anagrams

• earned, neared, readen