Predicative adjective and past participle

• (RP, GA, CA) enPR: bĭ-lŭvd, IPA: /bɪˈlʌvd/

Attributive adjective and noun

• (RP, GA, CA) enPR: bĭ-lŭv′ĭd, IPA: /bɪˈlʌvɪd/

beloved

1. Much loved, dearly loved.
   • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: Printed for Nath[aniel] Ponder […], OCLC 228725984 ↗; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, […], 1928, OCLC 5190338 ↗, pages 187–188 ↗:

     But I found at laſt, by hearing and conſidering of things that are Divine, which indeed I heard of you, as alſo of beloved Faithful, that was put to death for his Faith and good-living in Vanity-fair, That the end of these things is death. [Romans#Proper noun|Rom[ans] 6. 21, 22, 23.] And that for theſe things ſake, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of diſobedience. [Ephesians#Proper noun|Eph[esians] 5. 6.]

   • 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Æsop, &c.] Fab[le] CLXXXV. Jupiters Wedding.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: Printed for R[ichard] Sare, […], OCLC 228727523 ↗, page 155 ↗:

     When the Toy had once taken Jupiter in the Head to Enter into a State of Matrimony, he Reſolv'd for the Honour of his Celeſtial Lady, that the whole World ſhould keep a festival#English|Feſtiual upon the Day of his Marriage, and ſo Invited all Living Creatures, Tag-Rag and Bob-Tail, to the Solemnity to his Wedding. They all came in very Good Time, ſaving the Tortoiſe. Jupiter […] Ask'd him, Why ſo Late? Why truly ſays the Tortoiſe, I was at Home, at my Own Houſe, my Dearly Beloved Houſe, and [Home is Home, let it be never ſo Homely.]

   • 1719 April 24, [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: Printed by W[illiam] Taylor […], OCLC 15864594 ↗; 3rd edition, London: Printed by W[illiam] Taylor […], 1719, OCLC 838630407 ↗, pages 164–165 ↗:

     It is ſcarce poſſible to imagine the Conſternation I was now in, being driven from my beloved Iſland (for ſo it appeared to me now to be) into the wide Ocean, almoſt two Leagues, and in the utmoſt Deſpair of ever recovering it again.

   • 1765, Thomas Percy, compiler, “The Bailiff’s Daughter of Islington”, in Reliques of Ancient English Poetry: […], volume III, London: Printed for J[ames] Dodsley […], OCLC 519493226 ↗, lines 1–4, page 133 ↗:

     There was a youthe, and a well-beloved youthe, / And he was a ſquires ſon: / He loved the bayliffes daughter deare, / That lived in Iſlington.

• French: bien-aimé, chéri
• German: beliebt, geliebt
• Italian: amato
• Portuguese: amado
• Russian: возлю́бленный
• Spanish: amado, querido, bienamado, dilecto

beloved (plural beloveds)

1. Someone who is loved; something that is loved.

• French: amant, amante
• German: Liebe, Liebchen, Liebling, Geliebter, Geliebte
• Portuguese: amado
• Russian: возлю́бленный
• Spanish: amado, enamorado

1. (obsolete) Simple past tense and past participle of belove.