dearest

B1 · Intermediate Literary · Formal

adj. a very loving way to start a letter to a family member or close friend.

adj. a highly affectionate salutation used in personal correspondence, more intimate than 'Dear'.

“She began the letter with 'My dearest Mother' before sharing the news.”

“The archive contains several bundles of letters beginning with 'Dearest', revealing a level of intimacy the couple never displayed in public.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Archaic · Literary

n. a name you call someone you love, like a husband, wife, or child.

n. a term of endearment used as a vocative or to refer to a beloved person.

“Don't worry, my dearest, everything will be fine.”

“In the final scene of the play, he turns to his wife and calls her his 'only dearest' before the curtain falls.”