Endearment
/ɪnˈdɪər.mənt/noun
An expression or feeling of affection or fondness.
Did you know?Endearment is built on the old idea of making someone “dear,” and that same emotional root also gave English the word “dearth,” a haunting reminder that what is dear is also what is scarce.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
dēore
“Precious, valuable, beloved”
Middle English
ME
deere
“Dear; beloved; costly”
Late Middle English
ME
endeeren
“To make dear or beloved; to increase the value of”
Early Modern English
English
endear
“To make beloved or cherished”
18th Century
English
endearment
“An act or expression that makes one beloved or affectionate”
Modern English
English
endearment
“A word, gesture, or feeling expressing affection or fondness”