darling
/ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/
noun/adjective
Origin
Old English
deor + -ling — dear (beloved) + diminutive suffix
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person who is much loved or cherished.
- A term of endearment used for a person one loves.
- Someone or something highly regarded or popular in a particular field.
Literal older meaning
little dear
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
deorling
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word stems from the Old English 'deor', meaning precious or beloved, combined with the suffix '-ling', which originally carried a diminutive sense. Over time, it shifted from referring specifically to a 'favorite' or 'pet' to a general affectionate term.
Evolution
- Old English
deorling
“a beloved person, favourite”
- Middle English
derling
“a beloved one”
Transition from deor to der-
- Early Modern English
darling
“dear one, favourite”
Standardisation of spelling
Connections
Word parts
dear
root
beloved
-ling
suffix
diminutive, denoting a person associated with something
Related across languages
Dutch
dierling
beloved one
Explore next
Related to darling
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.