Superlative form of dear; most beloved, precious, or expensive. Often used as a term of endearment in letters or speech.
From Old English 'deore' meaning beloved or precious, with the superlative suffix '-est.' The word has maintained both its emotional and monetary meanings throughout its history.
The beautiful ambiguity of 'dearest' captures how we value both emotional and material worth - something can be dearest to our hearts or dearest in price. In Victorian letters, 'My Dearest' was considered more intimate than 'My Dear.'
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