• (RP) IPA: /ˈdɪəɹɪst/
• (America) IPA: /ˈdɪɹɪst/

1. superlative form of dear
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 37”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC ↗:

     So I, made lame by fortune's dearest spite, / Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.

dearest (plural dearests)

1. A beloved person; a term of endearment.

• beloved
• honey
• darling
• sweetheart