darling

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/; /ˈdɑːlɪŋ/ (UK)^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English derling, inherited from Old English dēorling (“one much beloved, a favourite”), dyrling,^[2][3][4] formed from dēore, dear, and the suffix -ling.^[3][2][5] The change of e to a in the 16th century is usual before r and a consonant (compare marsh).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A person very dear to another: about 888, in Alfred's Boethius.^[6][3]

Semantic evolution

A favourite or minion is also from about 888, now obsolete,^[6] and the favourite of a family from about 1330.^[6] Of a people's favourite it is from about 1205.^[6] The spelling darlyng appears before 1450.^[3] The adjective, very dear, is from 1509 (the 1590s in Etymonline),^[3][2] and in affected use, sweetly charming, from 1805.^[2] A lovable creature or pet is from 1799.^[6] A proverb of 1562 says it is better to be an old man's darling than a young man's werlyng.^[2] Darling was also the name of a variety of apple (1586).^[6]

Timeline

• c. 888 – a beloved person.^[6]
• c. 1330 – a family favourite.^[6]
• 1509 – the adjective.^[3]
• 1799 – a lovable creature.^[6]
• 1805 – sweetly charming.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A dearly loved person, often used as a term of address.
2. A favourite: the teacher's darling.

Adjective

1. Dearly loved.
2. Charming or delightful: a darling hat.

Word family

• darlingly
• darlingness

Related words

• dear
• -ling
• dearly

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press