Dearies

/ˈdɪəriz/ noun

Definition

Plural of dearie; informal or affectionate term for people one is fond of, similar to 'darling' or 'dear.'

Etymology

Diminutive form of 'dear' with the '-ie' or '-y' suffix (common in English for creating affectionate terms) plus plural '-s'. Regional British and Scottish usage.

Kelly Says

Scottish and Northern English dialects use 'dearie' as an everyday affectionate greeting—a shop owner might call all their customers 'dearies'—showing how the same word can be intimate in one region and totally normal in another.

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