darling
See also: Darling
English
Alternative forms
- darlin' (informal)
- dearling
Etymology
From Middle English derelyng, from Old English dīerling (“darling, favorite, minion; also household god”), corresponding to dear + -ling.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈdɑːlɪŋ/
- (General American) enPR: där'lĭng, IPA(key): /ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/
Audio (US) (file) - Homophone: Darling
- Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)lɪŋ
Noun
darling (plural darlings)
- A person who is dear to one.
- Mary, the youngest daughter, was always her mother's darling.
- 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
- But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.
- A kind or sweet person; sweetheart.
- The girl next door picks up all my shopping for me. She is such a darling.
- An affectionate term of address.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:sweetheart
- Pass the wine, would you, darling?
- 1969, Paul McCartney (lyrics and music), “Oh! Darling”, in Abbey Road, performed by The Beatles:
- Oh! Darling, please believe me / I'll never do you no harm
- 1972, Joni Mitchell (lyrics and music), “A Case of You”, in Blue:
- Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling / Still I'd be on my feet
- (by extension) A person or thing very popular with a certain group.
- a media darling
- a darling of the theatre
- 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in Guardian:
- One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium[sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.
Derived terms
- darlinghood
- kill one's darlings
- media darling
Translations
person who is dear to one
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Adjective
darling (comparative darlinger, superlative darlingest)
- Dear; cherished.
- She is my darling wife of twenty-two years.
- charming
- Well isn't that a darling little outfit she has on.
Usage notes
darlinger is rarely used.
Translations
dear, cherished
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charming
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Anagrams
- Lingard, larding