Endear
/ɪnˈdɪr/noun
To cause someone to feel affection or to make something beloved.
Did you know?Endear was formed in English from the prefix en- plus dear, and it became a verb in the 17th century—proof that even affection can be linguistically manufactured.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deh₃-
“to honor, regard, or cherish”
Old English
OE
deore
“precious, beloved, costly”
Middle English
ME
deer/deore
“beloved, dear; also costly or valued”
Early Modern English
English
endear
“to make dear or beloved”
Modern English
English
endear
“to cause affection or fondness”