[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/darling/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / darling

# darling

noun (a darling, darlings); adjective (darling)

«darling» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Darling is a loving word for someone you love: «Come here, darling.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#m1)
2. A darling is a person who is very loved or favoured: the darling of the crowd. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#m2)
3. (informal) Darling can mean very sweet or lovely: What a darling little puppy! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#m3)
4. (UK, informal) Some people, often older, call anyone «darling» to be friendly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life parents call children «darling»; in shops in parts of the UK a friendly assistant may say «There you go, darling.» In stories it shows love or tenderness. It tells the reader the speaker cares, or is trying to sound friendly.

### Examples

- Goodnight, darling, sleep well. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#x1)
- Thank you, darling, that's very kind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#x2)
- What a darling little kitten! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#x3)
- She was the darling of the whole school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#x4)
- «Mind how you go, darling,» said the lady at the till. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#x5)
- Grandma calls everyone darling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#x6)
- "How darling and beautiful you are!" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/#x7)

### Note

Used as a way of speaking to someone (like «dear», «love», «sweetheart»). Spelling: darling, not «darlin» (that is how some people say it). Can sound too familiar to strangers in some places.

## In Jewish tradition

In Jeremiah it means a much-loved child. God speaks of Ephraim this way.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads this as God's mercy toward the northern tribes, whom He still calls dear even after exile.

### Examples

- Is Ephraim a darling son unto Me? (Prophets JER.31.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/darling/#x1)

### Note

Used as a way of speaking to someone (like «dear», «love», «sweetheart»). Spelling: darling, not «darlin» (that is how some people say it). Can sound too familiar to strangers in some places.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «darling» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/darling/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«darling» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/darling.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «darling» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/darling/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«darling» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/darling.html) on Mova free.