A person who is very dear to another; the object of a person's love; one dearly loved. Commonly used as a term of endearing address.

Fair friend, good friend (esp. as a form of address).

figurative. An appellation of tender affection.

The adjective is often used absol. = ‘dear one’, especially in ‘dear’ or ‘my dear’ addressed to a person; also in the superlative, ‘dearest’, ‘my…

(See heart, n. 21.) A term of endearment = darling: used chiefly in the vocative. Also used ironically or contemptuously.

As a term of endearment: a loved one; (with possessive adjective) (one's) beloved, (one's) darling. Frequently as a form of address. Often with…

A beloved person, darling, sweetheart. (Cf. sweet, adj. 8c)

Now chiefly colloquial. As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address: sweetheart, darling. In later use chiefly North American, esp…

figurative and transferred. An appellation of tender affection.

As a term of endearment for a beloved person. Chiefly with possessive adjective. Cf. precious, n. treasure, n. 2.

As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address. Cf. chick, n.1 2, hen, n.1 3b.

As a term of endearment. Obsolete. rare.

As a term of endearment: sweetheart, darling. Cf. honey, n. 5. Now archaic and rare.

As a form of address to one's beloved and (in modern informal use) also familiarly to a close acquaintance or (more widely) anyone whom one…

A person, esp. a child, of playful or mischievous conduct. Frequently used as a term of endearment. Now rare.

As a term of endearment: darling, sweetheart.

As a term of admiration. Obsolete.

= sense 1, ‘generally denoting milk and meal boiled together’ (Jamieson); also humorously as a term of endearment.

a piece of bread dipped in honey; formerly also figurative and (in plural) as a term of endearment.

Scottish. A posset; (also) a poisonous draught. Also (in quot. 1513) as a term of endearment. Obsolete.

as a term of endearment. Obsolete.

Used as a term of endearment or pity, typically with the implication of innocence or artlessness. Obsolete.

Apparently: a term of endearment.

As a term of endearment: darling. Cf. whiting's eye n. at compounds 3. Obsolete.

A beautiful person. Chiefly as a term of endearment, (now) esp. for a woman. In early use chiefly with possessive adjective.

figurative applied to a person: cf. turtle, n.1 2.

Applied to a person. With possessive adjective. (A form of affectionate address for) a person regarded as a vital or essential part of one's life…

As a term of endearment (in addressing a person): little heart. Cf. heart, n. 21.

As term of endearment and familiar form of address to a companion. Originally applied to either sex (cf. darling, n.1 1a, sweetheart, n. 1a)…

figurative. Applied to a person, as a term of endearment, etc. (cf. dove, n. 2d), or (esp.) to lovers or married folk, in allusion to the…

figurative. Applied to persons. used as a term of endearment.

As a term of endearment; sweetheart, darling.

a term of affection for a beloved person.

colloquial. A cousin. Chiefly as a familiar or affectionate form of address. Cf. cousin, n. 2a.

As a term of endearment or affection. Also in plural. Cf. ding-dong, n. 1b.

= pug, n.2 1a.

A term of endearment.

figurative. As a term of endearment. Obsolete. rare.

colloquial. As a form of address or endearment.

A term of endearment for a person (or, occasionally, an animal); also applied to a plaything, as a doll or pet. Obsolete.

Used as a term of endearment.

A pretty child; a darling, a sweetheart (frequently as a term of endearment). Also (depreciative): a shallow or frivolous woman. Cf. moppet, n.2 1a.

As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address. Also formerly: †a loved one, esp. a child or spouse (obsolete). Now chiefly English regional…

Of a person (or occasionally an animal): pleasing in appearance, good-looking; esp. (of a woman) pleasantly attractive (rather than stunningly…

As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address, esp. for a woman or child. Cf. chicken, n. 4b.

= sweetkin, n.

A female sweetheart (frequently as a term of endearment). Also (derogatory): a kept mistress; a lewd or wanton woman; a prostitute. Now rare.

As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address for a beloved person.

A girl or young woman. Chiefly as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address.

Usually as a term of endearment: darling, sweetheart, pet. Also in quot. 1909: girl. Cf. pigsney, n. 1. rare after 17th cent.

A term of endearment: in quot. 1599 attributive = darling.

A term of endearment.

Used (esp. dialect) as a term of endearment for a sweetheart, child, etc.; a darling: cf. jo, n. 2.

Used as a term of endearment.

As a term of endearment.

Apparently used as a term of endearment (see quot. 1606).

A term of endearment.

Used as a term of endearment. Obsolete. rare.

figurative. ? Clown. Obsolete. (Cf. jack pudding, n.)

A little or dear heart; a sweetheart. Frequently as a term of endearment. Cf. heartikin, n.

A term of endearment.

As a term of endearment. (Cf. sweet, n.)

Used as a term of playful endearment.

As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address: sweetheart, darling, honey.

A small chubby person. Chiefly used as a term of endearment. Obsolete.

A colloquial or burlesque term of endearment: = Fine fellow, good fellow.

A pretty person or animal. Frequently as a form of address, esp. in my pretty, my pretties.

colloquial. Originally: an old person (cf. thing, n.1 10); frequently as a term of contempt or reproach. Later: used as a familiar or affectionate…

A name given sportively. Used as a term of endearment.

A term of endearment. Obsolete.

Used as a term of endearment.

= bulchin, n. A term of endearment.

A term of endearment for a beloved person: = sweeting, n.1 1.

Applied to a person as a term of endearment. (Cf. friskin, n. 2.)

In plural. As a term of endearment or affection; = ding-ding, n. Obsolete. rare.

A term of endearment: in ‘baby bunting’, the meaning (if there be any at all) may possibly be as in Jamieson's ‘buntin, short and thick, as a buntin…

Originally used as term of endearment for a person of either sex. In later use chiefly as a familiar form of address for a man. Cf. cock, n.1 14, c…

A little dear; a darling: a familiar term of amatory and conjugal endearment.

As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address for a loved one, esp. a woman or child.

Chiefly British. A beloved person, a darling. Usually as an affectionate form of address.

As a form of address: my dear. Now chiefly in Mother Machree, expressing (usually ironically) a stereotyped conception of Celtic or Irish identity.

As a term of endearment: sweetheart, darling.

= pinkany, n. 2.

As a term of endearment: love, dear. Cf. pug, n.2

As a term of endearment or affectionate form of address: sweetheart, darling.

A girl or woman, esp. one exhibiting characteristics associated with a cat, as spitefulness, slyness, attractiveness, playfulness, etc. Originally…

Originally Scottish. (Cf. carline's pet n. at carline, n.1 compounds, the examples of which are… A sweet, obedient, or obliging person. Frequently…

A term of affection: Little or dear dove.

colloquial (originally U.S.). A sweetheart, a lover; a lovable person. Also as a term of endearing address.

A beloved person, a sweetheart. Frequently as an affectionate form of address. See lovey, n. 1.

colloquial (originally and chiefly British). As a familiar or affectionate form of address: dear, sweetheart, love. Chiefly in my lovely. Cf. lovey…

A term of endearment. Also duckie. Cf. duck, n.1 3.

A person regarded as of little importance or worth. Cf. sense 4a. Obsolete.

As a form of address: (my) dear; darling. Cf. macushla, n.

As a familiar form of address or term of endearment: my child.

Something highly enjoyable; a great pleasure, delight, or gratification. Also rarely applied to a person as an emotional expression of…

As a form of address: friend, mate; (in plural) guys.

Originally Irish English, now chiefly U.S. regional (southern and in African-American usage). A sweetheart, a darling. Chiefly as a form of address…

As a form of address: (my) dear; darling.

A sweetheart; a darling. Frequently as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address; esp. in my (little) cabbage.

a sweetheart, a darling (frequently as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address); cf. honey-bun, n.

Originally and chiefly U.S. A sweetheart, a darling. Frequently as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address. Cf. angel, n. 6b.

= dear, adj.1 2d.

A term of endearment common in Wales and the border counties, frequently following a personal name: dear, little one, friend.

(chiefly as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address) sweetheart, darling; cf. sense A. 5a.

figurative and in extended use. A person likened to a prawn in appearance or character, esp. in being foolish or foolish-looking.

= honey, n. 5a 6a.

Used euphemistically as a term of abuse for a person (occasionally a thing). Also, with weakened force, as a term of affection.

A sweetheart, a lover. Also (as an affectionate form of address): darling, ‘love’.

figurative. In colloquial use (chiefly North American). (originally U.S.). As a term of endearment: sweetheart, darling. Also occasionally in plural.

A sweetheart, a darling. Frequently as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address. Cf. honey, n. 5 honey bunny n. at honey, n. adj.compou…

Used as a term of endearment for a cat or (occasionally) a person, esp. a woman.

A trivial term of endearment, usually applied to children or lapdogs.

transferred and figurative. Anything valued and preserved as precious; also of a person, a ‘jewel’, ‘gem’ (colloquial); also as an affectionate…

In James Joyce's Ulysses: a term of endearment used by the character Hester Stanhope as a pet name for her husband, explained by O.E.D. Suppl.…

As a form of address: friend, mate. Cf. amigo, n. 2.

transferred and figurative uses, phrases, etc. colloquial. A term of endearment. Also in combination, as sugar-babe, sugar-baby, sugar-pie, etc.

Chiefly in plural. Used as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address: sweetheart, honey, sugar pie.

As a term of endearment or affection. Cf. angel, n. 8 angel face, n. 2.

Originally and chiefly British. As an affectionate or familiar form of address: (my) dear, darling; sweetheart.

A boyfriend or girlfriend; a romantic or sexual partner. Originally and chiefly as a term of endearment or affectionate form of address…