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Webster 1913 Edition
Endear
En-dear′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Endeared
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Endearing
.] 1.
To make dear or beloved.
“To be endeared to a king.” Shak.
2.
To raise the price or cost of; to make costly or expensive.
[R.]
King James I. (1618).
Webster 1828 Edition
Endear
ENDE'AR
,Verb.
T.
1.
To raise the price. [Not in use.]Definition 2024
endear
endear
English
Alternative forms
Verb
endear (third-person singular simple present endears, present participle endearing, simple past and past participle endeared)
- (obsolete) To make (something) more precious or valuable. [16th-17th c.]
- (obsolete) To make (something) more expensive; to increase the cost of. [17th-19th c.]
- (obsolete) To stress (something) as important; to exaggerate. [17th c.]
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.18:
- Salvianus Massiliensis […] saith, that amongst French-men, to lie and forsweare is no vice but a manner of speach. He that would endeare [transl. encherir] this Testimonie, might say, it is now rather deemed a vertue among them.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.18:
- To make (someone) dear or precious. [from 18th c.]