dearie - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

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From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

deary

From dear + -ie.

(Received Pronunciation, General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈdɪəɹi/
(General American, mirror_–_nearer merger) IPA(key): /ˈdɪɹi/
(US, without the mirror_–_nearer merger) IPA(key): /ˈdɪɚi/, /ˈdiɹi/
(Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈdiɹɪ/, /ˈdiɹe/
(New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈdiəɹi/
(East Anglia, cheer_–_chair merger) IPA(key): /ˈdɛːɹi/
Rhymes: -ɪəɹi
Homophones: deary; dairy (cheer_–_chair merger)

dearie (plural dearies)

(colloquial, chiefly as a term of address) A person who is dear; sweetie.
- 1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados:
  What a scare you gave me, dearie.
- 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 43:
  At the mention of money Mrs Dibble was overcome with great debility, and wheezed, "I don't feel up to talking about money, matters just now, dearie. I think I better have a bit of a doze."

aeried, readie, rediae