dearness

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English dear Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English dearness From dear + -ness.

1. The quality of having great value or price.

   “But brothers pass not into noble friendships upon the stock of that relation: they have fair dispositions and advantages, and are more easy and ready to ferment into the greatest dearnesses, if all things else be answerable.”

   “Customers in Padgett Street did not generally, one might infer, express approval on the score of dearness.”