Etymologically
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darling

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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

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