An archaic or dialectal adjective meaning sad, sorrowful, or gloomy; found in old English and Scots poetry.
From Old English 'deore' (sad, severe). Related to modern words like 'dire' and appears in Middle English literature.
The word 'dere' appears in old poems and folk songs—it's related to 'dire,' showing how meanings shifted over time. Modern speakers recognize it in phrases from old literature!
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