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beloved

beloved

19 3.4
A person who is very much loved
  • noun
  • /bɪˈlʌvɪd/
translation icon : ser querido
  • Pyramus arrives, sees the bloodied veil, and believes his beloved has been killed.
  • Toni Morrison's Beloved
  • Beloved confronts Sethe
  • the novel Beloved

Jenny, who is my beloved, she is the nail queen.

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Examples

  • Marrying his beloved did not lead to leaving his master's workplace.

  • No more bowing and scraping, my beloveds.

  • "My beloved is mine and I am his.

  • No no, my beloved is returning soon.

  • You are alive my beloved

  • As some people do when their beloved pets pass.

  • You search out the beloved, you're willing to try anything.

  • Uncle Hamid, meanwhile, discovered his heart healing from the disappointment his beloved had brought him.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I am here on behalf of my beloved, dear colleague Neil deGrasse Tyson.

  • I gave my beloved a surprise party for their birthday, and everyone had a wonderful time.

Synonyms

honey
vsbeloved
  • Informal
1.0

A word you use to show love or affection to someone

is a general endearment not limited to romantic use
baby
vsbeloved
  • Informal
1.0

A word used to show love for a romantic partner

is used broadly for any dearly loved person, not only romantic use
darling
vsbeloved
  • Informal
1.0

A person you love very much

is the same affectionate term used widely as an endearment
sweetheart
vsbeloved
  • Informal
1.0

A person you love in a romantic way

is used for any dearly loved person, not only romantic partners
love
vsbeloved
  • Informal
772 1.0

A word people use to address someone they care about, like dear

is the usual term for someone dearly cared for, not only address
sweetie
vsbeloved
  • Informal
558 2.8

A person you love or care for very much

is a broader term for a dearly loved person, not only playful address
loved one
vsbeloved
310 1.3

A person you care about deeply, like a family member or close friend

is usually an affectionate address rather than a general reference
dearest
vsbeloved
  • Informal
162 2.2

A person you love very much

is a general affectionate label that is less intense
dear
vsbeloved
  • Informal
29 1.0

A person you love or like very much

is a broadly used endearment rather than a specific romantic label
dearie
vsbeloved
  • Informal
6 8.1

A word used to show love or kindness to someone

is the standard affectionate word often used across relationships
lovey
vsbeloved
  • Informal
5 7.5

A gentle name used for someone you love

is a neutral affectionate term used in many situations
dovey
vsbeloved
  • Informal
4 9.5

A person you love and feel close to

is more neutral and not always slang or playful in tone
deary
vsbeloved
  • UK
2 8.4

A person you love or care about, often called this name to show love

is more widely used as a general term of endearment
amore
vsbeloved
  • Informal
1 9.1

A person you love as a romantic partner

is used for any dearly loved person, not specifically a romantic partner
ladylove
vsbeloved
  • Archaic
1 7.8

A woman who is a man's sweetheart

is gender neutral and applies to any dearly loved person
dearling
vsbeloved
  • Archaic
9.9

A person you love and care about a lot

is the more common modern affectionate term rather than archaic use
truelove
vsbeloved
  • Literature
5.8

A person someone cares for deeply and wants to be with

is used more generally for any dearly loved person, not only a soulmate
sweetling
vsbeloved
  • Archaic
8.1

A loving name for someone you care about

is a wider label for a dearly loved person rather than a cute nickname

Antonyms

1.0

A person who wants to harm or defeat you

Compounds

A character in a book or film who many people love

An activity or hobby someone enjoys a lot

How Loved

beloved
19 3.4
partner
878 1.1
friend
1.0
acquaintance
114 3.5

Surface Forms

beloved singular
beloveds plural

Morphology

beloved = loved (transparent) = be + love + ed

As a noun meaning 'a person who is dearly loved', the form is derived from 'loved' with the 'be-' prefix; the sense is directly related and inferable.

Etymology

Beloved began as the past form of love with the prefix be-, so it means 'a person who is deeply loved'. That's why someone might call their partner or close friend their beloved as a warm, caring name.