dear heart

Definitions

1. 1

   Term of affection

   Term of affection; sweetheart.

2. 2

   Expressing surprise or emphasis.

   • “Dead — aye, sure enough he’s dead and gone below,” said the fellow with the bandage; “but if ever sperrit walked, it would be Flint’s. Dear heart, but he died bad, did Flint!”
   • "Dear heart!" exclaimed Mrs. Plummer soon after, as something rolled over the bare white boards from the folds of a dress she was vigorously shaking, before replacing it in the drawer, "how did she come by pearls?"

The neighborhood