nearest and dearest
adj/ˈnɪəɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪəɹɪst/UK/ˈnɪɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪɹɪst/US
Etymology
] The adjective sense appears to predate the noun sense.
Definitions
Closest, most intimate.
One's closest and most intimate family members, friends, etc.
- [W]hile all mourned and honoured the dead, thou hast lived to merit our hate and execration—lived to unite thyself with the vile tyrant who murdered thy nearest and dearest— […]
- Christmas is the time to nurture friendships and spend as much time as possible with your nearest and dearest.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for nearest and dearest. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA