beloved means much loved, dearly loved. It carries an Arena rating of 1356, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, beloved ranks #2,737 of 14,445 for Most Beautiful Words, #6,548 of 14,361 for Most Ingenious Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,156 of 14,410 for Most Ponderous Words.
beloved is pronounced /bɪˈlʌvd/.
Why “beloved” is a great word
Dearly or intensely loved. From Middle English beloved, biloved, equivalent to belove (from Old English belufian, "to love, be dear to," from be- (an intensifying prefix) + lufian ("to love")) + the past participle suffix -ed. The adjective is attested from the late 14th century. Unlike "cherished" (which cradles like a secret, guarded and tender) or "adored" (which kneels in reverence, eyes uplifted), beloved stands at eye level, enduring and sure—a love worn not as a jewel but as a second skin. It is the worn hand in yours after forty winters, the voice that calls your name when the light is failing, the scent of lavender on an old scarf folded carefully in a drawer. It is love not merely felt but named, and in the naming, made permanent.
Etymology
From Middle English beloved, biloved, equivalent to belove + -ed.
adj
- Much loved, dearly loved.“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. [Rom[ans] 6. 21, 22, 23.] And that for theſe things ſake, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of diſobedience. [Eph[esians] 5. 6.]”
noun
- Someone who is loved; something that is loved.“[…] Chriſtian, with deſire fell ſick, Hopeful alſo had a fit or two of the ſame Diſeaſe: Wherefore, here they lay by it a while, crying out, becauſe of their pangs, If ye ſee my Beloved, tell him that I am ſick of love.”
Words closest in meaning
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